Amateur-built MINI-MAX II accident near Chester, Connecticut, September 30, 1989
On September 30, 1989 at about 2:10 pm local time, a amateur-built MINI-MAX II, registered N2079A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chester, Connecticut (Chester airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF FLIGHT TIME IN THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1989 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Chester, Connecticut · Chester
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MINI-MAX II MINI-MAX I
- Registration
- N2079A · no longer on the register · serial MK70
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS MAKING HIS INITIAL TEST FLIGHT OF HIS HOMEBUILT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT TURNED TO A DOWNWIND LEG AND LEVELED-OFF AT 300 FT AGL TO GAIN AIRSPEED. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED INTO TREES. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS CLIMBING STEEPER THAN HE LIKES TO SEE, AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS 'SCREAMING' UNTIL IMPACT. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT IN THIS TYPE AIRPLANE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 550 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 377 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 64°F (18°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.
Other NTSB records under N2079A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.