Piper PA-22-150 accident near St. Clair, Missouri, August 14, 1989
On August 14, 1989 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N7136B, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Clair, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO ESTABLISH A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB DUE TO THE MISJUDGED WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1989 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- St. Clair, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7136B · no longer on the register · serial 224355
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A PVT GRASS STRIP OF ABOUT 2000 FEET IN LENGTH, THE ACFT WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH A POSITIVE CLIMB, AND SETTLED BACK TO THE TERRAIN. THE FINAL DESTINATION WAS TO BE FAIRBANKS, ALASKA, FOR A HUNTING TRIP. THE ACFT WAS LOADED WITH BAGGAGE, HUNTING GEAR, FIREARMS, PILOT AND TWO ADULT PASSENGERS. THE ACFT HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO A TAIL WHEEL CONFIGURATION AND IN ADDITION WAS EQUIPPED WITH LARGE, OVERSIZE, 'TUNDRA TYPE' TIRES. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL OR FUEL SUPPLY MALFUNCTIONS.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,112 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,976 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1989; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE St. Clair MO at 11:55 am
- Destination: Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 35, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 am from SUS, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.