Amateur-built POLLIWAGON 150 accident near St. Charles, Missouri, June 16, 1990
On June 16, 1990 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built POLLIWAGON 150, registered N21EV, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Charles, Missouri (St. Charles CO airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM-STICK WAS LOOSE RESULTING IN AN STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1990 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- St. Charles, Missouri · St. Charles CO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built POLLIWAGON 150 POLLIWAGON
- Registration
- N21EV · registry record · serial 1085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PLT, MAKING HIS HOMEBUILT ACFT'S FIRST FLIGHT, SAID THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE EXPERIENCED PITCH PROBLEMS. HE MADE THREE CIRCUITS OF THE AIRPORT ATTEMPTING TO STABILIZE THE ACFT, THEN ATTEMPTED TO LAND. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN ON ALL THREE WHEELS, THE ACFT PITCHED UP, TO ABOUT 8 FEET AGL, THEN STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED EXCESSIVE, LOOSE PLAY IN THE CONTROL MIXER AND THE POSSIBILITY OF AN IMPROPERLY LOCATED STABILIZER HINGE ASSEMBLY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 563 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 485 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.