# Accident 19960531012239A: Amtr DSA1G, Astoria, IL, May 31, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 31, 1996, 09:15 local time
- Place: Astoria, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.2198° N, 90.3498° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2198&lon=-90.3498&mi=10
- Aircraft: N611SU, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N611SU-2002-04-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Gray Miniplane DSA-1-G (registry code 83501D1, https://openairdocs.org/model/gray-miniplane-dsa-1-g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR DSA1G
- Reported engine: CONT C8512
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 987 total, 24 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA188) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960531012239A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE PILOT PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THEY STATED THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A LOOP WHEN HE GOT TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND DURING THE MANEUVER.  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN NEAR A TREELINE WHICH SURROUNDED THE OPEN FIELD OVER WHICH THE MANEUVERS WERE BEING PERFORMED.                                                  (-23) WITNESSES STATED THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN CONDUCTING LOW LEVEL AEROBATICS FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE A LOOP STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET AGL, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TERRAIN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI96LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA188), May 31, 1996: Gray Miniplane DSA-1-G (N611SU), Astoria, IL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the terrain while performing an aerobatic maneuver.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.