Amateur-built Q2 accident near Gilmer, Texas, February 9, 1991
On February 9, 1991 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Q2, registered N3147L, was destroyed in an accident near Gilmer, Texas (Upshur County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER CLIMB PERFORMANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 1991 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gilmer, Texas · Upshur County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q2
- Registration
- N3147L · registry record · serial 2595
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT A GROSS WEIGHT AT OR NEAR MAXIMUM THE AIRPLANE GOT AIRBORNE ABOUT 2/3 DOWN THE 3,300 FOOT LONG STRIP. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN A CLIMB RATE SUFFICIENT TO CLEAR A POWER LINE OFF THE NORTH END OF THE RUNWAY. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT WITH A NEWLY INSTALLED CLIMB PROPELLER. THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO USE ONLY 3,300 RPM, VERSUS THE NORMAL 3500 RPM FULL POWER APPLICATION, FOR TAKEOFF WITH THIS PROPELLER. HE STATED HE PROBABLY COULD HAVE MISSED THE WIRES IF HE HAD GONE TO FULL POWER.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 2100D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.