# NTSB CHI01LA275: Schuetz Miniplane DSA-1, N11991, Michigan City, IN, August 12, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 2001, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Michigan City, IN - Coordinates: 41.709388, -86.869033 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7094&lon=-86.8690&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - South Bend FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53049 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53049/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA275 ## Probable cause Aircraft control not being maintained by the pilot. Contributing factors to the accident were the pilot maneuvering at a low airspeed, the encountered stall/spin, and the recovery from the spin at a low altitude, which resulted in altitude/clearance not being maintained from the trees. Additional factors to the accident were the low fuel quantity, which resulted in fuel starvation and the momentary loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - fuel system - starvation (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall/spin - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command - altitude - low (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while in a "slow" turning maneuver the engine quit running, the airplane stalled and entered a spin. The pilot stated that he encountered the stall/spin at 1,150 feet msl. The pilot recovered at approximately 50 to 60 feet above the ground but was unable to climb before impacting a small grove of trees. The pilot reported that, "Before I realized the engine had quit I had lost to much airspeed. The plane stalled and went into a spin." The pilot stated that the engine began to run after the recovery from the spin. The pilot stated that the airplane's fuel quantity, as of the last departure, was 8 gallons. The fuel burn rate for a Continental O-200 engine is reported as 7.5 gallons/hour. The duration of the flight was approximately 0.5 hour. During a post-accident inspection no anomalies were found with the airplane or its engine that could be associated with any pre-impact condition. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 2001, at 1100 central daylight time, an amateur-built Schuetz Miniplane DSA-1, N11991, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with trees and terrain near Michigan City, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The flight departed the South Haven Area Regional Airport, South Haven, Michigan, at 1030 and was maneuvering at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written statement, at the time of the accident he was maneuvering, at approximately 1150 feet msl, trying to locate a friend's residence. The pilot stated that while he was in a turn the engine quit running. The pilot reported that the airspeed of the airplane was "slow" when the engine quit running. The pilot stated, "Before I realized the engine had quit I had lost to much airspeed. The plane stalled and went into a spin." The pilot reported that he regained control of the airplane and recovered from the spin at approximately 50 to 60 feet above the ground. The pilot stated that he was unable to climb before impacting a small grove of trees. The pilot reported that the engine began to run after the recovery from the spin. The pilot stated that the airplane's fuel quantity, as of the last departure, was 8 gallons. The fuel burn rate for a Continental O-200 engine is reported as 7.5 gallons/hour. During a post-accident inspection no anomalies were found with the airplane or its engine that could be associated with any pre-impact condition. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11991](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11991-2002-02-27), registration cancelled 2002-02-27, S/N DSA-1-75, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schuetz Miniplane DSA-1 - Registry model: [Schuetz-Miniplane DSA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/schuetz-miniplane-dsa-1) (registry code 83501JT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: DSA-1-75 - Airframe hours: 542.09 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Terry R. Parmley - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2000, 8.28 hours before - Departed: 0D1, South Haven, MI - Destination: MGC, Michigan City, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 10, 2001; seat: center; flight hours: 1,052 total, 167 in this make and model, 980 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: SBN, 22 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010812026289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010812026289A), Aug 12, 2001: Amtr DSA1, Michigancity, MI, No damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he was making a steep turn at approximately 500 feet AGL when the engine lost power. Fuel capacity of this aircraft is approximately 15… 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. --- 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.