Bacon QUESTAIR-VENTURE accident near Des Moines, IA
On January 21, 1995, a Bacon QUESTAIR-VENTURE (airplane) was involved in an accident near Des Moines, IA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 21, 1995
- Place
- Des Moines, IA
- Aircraft
- Bacon QUESTAIR-VENTURE · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.529°N, 93.660°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X02831
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 21, 1995, at 1537 central standard time, a Questair- Venture, N4QV, operated by Condominium Insurance Specialists of America, Inc., of Arlington Heights, Illinois, impacted level terrain 3/4 mile southeast of runway 31R at Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, and was destroyed. The two private pilot occupants received fatal injuries, and a post-crash fire occurred. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and was en route from Palwaukee Airport (PWK), Palwaukee, Illinois, to Cheyenne, Wyoming, on an instrument flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. The airplane was cruising at 16,000 feet above mean sea level (msl), when the pilot declared an emergency and requested landing at DSM. During the emergency descent, the pilot stated he would be making a "dead stick landing." Several witnesses described the airplane descending in a spin immediately before impact, and a fireball occurring after impact. Post-crash inspection revealed no indications of engine rotation at impact. Disassembly of the engine revealed the crankshaft broken in two locations. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The 43 year old private pilot had approximately 2,450 hours of total flight time. He had privileges for single and multi engine airplanes, and an instrument airplane rating. He held a valid Third Class medical certificate, with no limitations. He was the designer, builder and primary machinist of the experimental powerplant. He held Aircraft Repairman certificates with the privileges of FAR 65.103 for engine assemb
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the emergency descent, resulting in a stall/spin. Factors were material defects in the material used to manufacture the crankshaft, resulting in the crankshaft fracturing after approximately 200 hours in service.
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Browse: Iowa
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
