Grumman American AA-5 N1383R
31 January 1993 · Lanham, Maryland, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 31 January 1993 at about 17:58 local time, a Grumman American AA-5 registered N1383R, operated by David Spiegelthal, was involved in an accident near Lanham, Maryland, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:58
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lanham, Maryland, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.9599, -76.8496
- Aircraft
- Grumman American AA-5
- Registration
- N1383R
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- David Spiegelthal
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Friendly → Laurel
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO93LA024
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE BLOCKAGE OF THE RIGHT AND LEFT FUEL VENT LINE WHICH PREVENTED THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE CAUSING TOTAL POWER LOSS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1,400 FEET MSL, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT COULD NOT RESTART THE ENGINE SO HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. DUE TO THE CONGESTED AREA, THE PILOT COULD NOT MANEUVER THE AIRPLANE. TO AVOID HITTING A HOME OR POWERLINE, THE PILOT STALLED THE AIRPLANE AT ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE FELL 200 FEET ONTO A ROAD. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL VENT LINES WERE TOTALLY BLOCKED BY INSECT NESTS, WHICH TERMINATED THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THE BLOCKAGES WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL VENT LINES AT THE WING ROOT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Grumman American AA-5 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1993 | Grumman American AA-5 | Watkins, Colorado, United States | Advanced Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Oct 1992 | Grumman American AA-5 | Snow Hill, North Carolina, United States | TAR Heel Aviation, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 10 Aug 1997 | Grumman American AA-5 | Lower Brule, South Dakota, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Jun 1989 | Grumman American AA-5 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | Samuelson, Kathleen S. | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 1997 | Grumman American AA-5 | Monterey, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 7 Feb 1998 | Grumman American AA-5 | Conroe, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 May 1993 | De Havilland DH-82A | Frederick, Maryland, United States | Bernard Paiewonsky | No injuries | - |
| 11 Nov 1993 | Cessna 152 | Walkersville, Maryland, United States | Control Aero Corporation | Fatal | 2 |
| 27 Jun 1993 | Piper PA-30 | Mitchellville, Maryland, United States | Southern Aviation MGT Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jan 1993 | Cessna 150K | Hagerstown, Maryland, United States | Eagle Air Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 1993 | Gritter QUEST AIR 20 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | AMP Air Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Oct 1993 | Cessna T210F | Frederick, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |