Amateur-built TIERRA II accident near Moscow, Idaho, April 15, 1990
On April 15, 1990 at about 8:15 pm local time, a amateur-built TIERRA II, registered N52744, was destroyed in an accident near Moscow, Idaho. 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 PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN A PROPER AIRSPEED DURING THE CLIMB TO CRUISE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1990 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Moscow, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TIERRA II
- Registration
- N52744 · no longer on the register · serial 3385324
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED IN A CLIMBING TURN. DURING THE TURN THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE WENT UP THEN DROPPED NEARLY STRAIGHT TO THE GROUND. THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO BE RUNNING TO THE POINT OF COLLISION. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: student
- Flight time: 250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 825 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 6-823-950 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Viola ID
- Destination: LWS Lewiston ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PUW, 5 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.