# NTSB FTW91DRG06: Questair Venture, N7PZ, San Marcos, TX, July 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: July 24, 1991, 10:25 local (15:25 UTC)
- Place: San Marcos, TX
- Coordinates: 29.880659, -97.920173 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8807&lon=-97.9202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23233
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91DRG06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23233/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91DRG06

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING AIRSPEED RESULTING IN A STALL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN OF HIS HOME BASE AIRPORT IN HIS EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE. AFTER DEPARTING FROM THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED IN A LEFT TURN ON BASE TO FINAL APPROACH. EYEWITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO BANK LEFT AND TIGHTENED THE TURN BEFORE IT NOSED OVER OUT OF CONTROL TO IMPACT THE GROUND. SEVERAL WITNESSES MONITORED AN EXEMPLAR FLIGHT DURING THE INVESTIGATION AND NOTED THAT THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE SLOWER IN THE PATTERN COMPARED TO THE DEMONSTRATION AIRPLANE. NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE FOUND TO ANY AIRPLANE SYSTEM DURING THE INVESTIGATION BY THE FAA COORDINATOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7PZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7PZ-2013-07-03), registration cancelled 2013-07-03, S/N 21, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: QUESTAIR VENTURE
- Registry model: [Scott F Brantley VENTURE 20](https://openairdocs.org/model/scott-f-brantley-venture-20) (registry code 056184Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 21
- Airframe hours: 35
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-550-G1B 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Frank Brantley Scott
- Registered owner: Frank Brantley Scott
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1991, 35 hours before
- Departed: T98

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,770 total, 35 in this make and model, 3,670 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F

## 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 19910724030179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910724030179A), Jul 24, 1991: Amtrjg QUESTAIR20, San Marcos, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Turned steeply to line up with runway on final. Stalled. Dived in vertically.

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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