Amateur-built FLY BABY 1A accident near Bemidji, Minnesota, May 29, 1990
On May 29, 1990 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built FLY BABY 1A, registered N3204, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bemidji, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE WING ATTACHMENT BOLTS WERE NOT INSTALLED RESULTING IN INFLIGHT WING SEPARATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1990 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bemidji, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FLY BABY 1A FLY BABY 1
- Registration
- N3204 · no longer on the register · serial 1R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE HOMEBUILT ACFT, CRASHED INTO TREES. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ABSENCE OF THE RIGHT WING RETAINING PINS. THE WRECKAGE PATTERN INDICATED THAT THE RIGHT WING HAD SEPARATED IN FLIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FUEL SUPPLY SHORTAGE WAS FOUND.
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: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 895 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 924 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 100 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from BJI, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.