# NTSB CHI90DEE10: Jeff Pierson Pierson Pusher, N75FM, Kankakee, IL, September 30, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: September 30, 1990, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC)
- Place: Kankakee, IL
- Coordinates: 41.11066, -87.859985 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1107&lon=-87.8600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14456
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90DEE10
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14456/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90DEE10

## Probable cause

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO ACTIVATION OF CARBURETOR CHOKE AND AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - powerplant controls - inadvertent deactivation, pilot in command (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate control shape/size, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

A HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE ON TAKEOFF CLIMBOUT WAS OBSERVED WITH MAIN GEAR RETRACTED AND NOSE GEAR EXTENDED. WITNESSES RECOUNT THE ENGINE SPUTTERING, FOLLOWED BY A STALL AND A UNCONTROLLED DESCENT TO GROUND. THE CARBURETOR CHOKE PLATE WAS FOUND CLOSED. THE PILOT HAD INSTALLED A POSITIVE DOWNLOCK ON THE NOSEGEAR TO PREVENT RETRACTION UNLESS A PULL-TO-RELEASE HANDLE IN THE COCKPIT WERE USED. THE HANDLE TO ENABLE NOSEGEAR RETRACTION RESEMBLED THE CHOKE HANDLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75FM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75FM-1991-01-02), registration cancelled 1991-01-02, S/N 028 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JEFF PIERSON PIERSON PUSHER (PIERSON PU)
- Registry model: [Muntwyler/Pierson PUSHER](https://openairdocs.org/model/muntwyler-pierson-pusher) (registry code 056128N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1
- Airframe hours: 28
- Engines: FORD 3.8 V6 215 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Muntwyler, Frederic C.
- Registered owner: Jacqueline Muntwyler Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: IKK, Kankakee, runway 4, 5,985 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,546 total, 28 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IKK, 1 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 19900930043909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900930043909A), Sep 30, 1990: Amtrpa PUSHER, Kankakee, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Stalled and spun in on downwind. Seat found full aft. Over gross. Pilot had severe artery disease. Throttle closed.

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.

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