Davis Starship ALPHA N5531N
9 May 1989 · Star, Idaho, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 9 May 1989 at about 16:45 local time, a Davis Starship ALPHA registered N5531N, operated by Gilbert E. Davis, was involved in an accident near Star, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Star, Idaho, United States
- Nearest airport
- Jump West
- Coordinates
- 43.7197, -116.4900
- Aircraft
- Davis Starship ALPHA
- Registration
- N5531N
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Gilbert E. Davis
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Nampa → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA89LA083
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER DRIVE BELT (STRIPPED TEETH). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: STRONG/GUSTY WINDS AND THE HILLY TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PLT MADE A LOW PASS OVER THE AIRPORT TO CHECK THE RWY, THEN DECIDED NOT TO LAND. WHEN HE APPLIED POWER TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND, TEETH STRIPPED OFF OF THE PROP DRIVE BELT. THIS RESULTED IN AN INTERRUPTION OF POWER TO THE PROP. THE PLT MANEUVERED THE ACFT BACK TOWARD THE ARPT IN STRONG GUSTY WINDS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LAND ON THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED WHEN IT IMPACTED ON A SMALL HILL ABOUT 100' NORTH OF THE RWY. THE PLT RPRTD THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTH AT 15 GUSTING 20 KTS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-23-250 | Stanley, Idaho, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 22 Jul 1989 | Stinson 108-2 | Athol, Idaho, United States | William E. Rooks | Fatal | 2 |
| 1 Sep 1989 | Evans WITTMAN TAILWIND W10 | McCall, Idaho, United States | Jerviss, Stanley L. | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Jun 1989 | Cessna 150M | Gooding, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jan 1989 | Cessna 180J | Elk City, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Feb 1989 | Aero Commander S2R | Cottonwood, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |