Amateur-built CHRISTINA MINICOUPE accident near Spokane, Washington, November 7, 1993
On November 7, 1993 at about 11:42 pm local time, a amateur-built CHRISTINA MINICOUPE, registered N71GS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spokane, Washington (Felts Field). 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 IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 1993 · about 11:42 pm local time
- Place
- Spokane, Washington · Felts Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHRISTINA MINICOUPE CHRISTINA
- Registration
- N71GS · no longer on the register · serial MC104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD 'A NICE STRAIGHT IN APPROACH WITH PLENTY OF AIRSPEED.' AS THE AIRCRAFT PASSED OVER THE NUMBERS A HIGH SINK RATE DEVELOPED AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD. WINDS WERE CALM AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 181 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 114 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 436 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 6, 1993; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 784 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 2100D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SFF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3L, 4,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:40 pm from SFF
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.