Amateur-built SA102 CAVALIER accident near Tumwater, Washington, August 12, 1990
On August 12, 1990, a amateur-built SA102 CAVALIER, registered N70JV, was destroyed in an accident near Tumwater, Washington (Cricket Field). 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'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF FOLLOWING AN ENGINE LOSS OF POWER. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER WAS NOT DETERMINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1990
- Place
- Tumwater, Washington · Cricket Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA102 CAVALIER SA102 CAVA
- Registration
- N70JV · registry record · serial 71049
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF, THE EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE REACHED 150 FT AGL WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE ENGINE REGAINED FULL POWER MOMENTARILY; HOWEVER, WHEN THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A LEFT TURN, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND QUIT. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED THE LEFT TURN WHICH INCREASED TO A SPIN. THE AIRPLANE THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE DOWN LEFT WING LOW ALTITUDE. DURING THE ENGINE EXAMINATION THERE WERE NO NOTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. AIRPLANE DOCUMENTATION SUGGESTS THAT BOTH AN ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP AND AN ELECTRICAL AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP BE INSTALLED. THE PILOT HAD INSTALLED ONLY AN ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP.
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
- Flight time: 760 hours in all; 29 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 6, 1989; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,640 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°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.