American AA-1 N5765L
4 September 1993 · Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 4 September 1993 at about 19:55 local time, a American AA-1 registered N5765L, operated by Curenton, Rufus B., was involved in an accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. 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 19:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
- Nearest airport
- Tuscaloosa Municipal (TCL)
- Coordinates
- 33.2290, -87.5403
- Aircraft
- American AA-1
- Registration
- N5765L
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Curenton, Rufus B.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Montgomery
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL93LA149
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
FOULED SPARK PLUGS ON THE NUMBER 2 AND 3 CYLINDERS, AND A LACK OF COMPRESSION ON THE NUMBER 1 AND 4 CYLINDERS, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH VEGETATION AT THE FORCED LANDING SITE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE RPM BEGAN TO DECAY DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, HE MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT TO A NEARBY FIELD. HE FORCE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN HIGH GRASS, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRFRAME RECEIVED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 2 AND 3 CYLINDER SPARK PLUGS WERE FOULED, AND WOULD NOT PRODUCE A SPARK. A COMPRESSION CHECK SHOWED NO COMPRESSION ON THE NUMBERS 1 AND 4 CYLINDERS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other American AA-1 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 1993 | American AA-1 | Iuka, Mississippi, United States | Wingo, Lewis | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Dec 1994 | American AA-1 | Oasis, California, United States | Nathan Carriker | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1991 | American AA-1 | Dexter, Michigan, United States | Joseph A. Egan | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 1995 | American AA-1 | Sarasota, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 1995 | American AA-1 | Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States | Richard D. McChesney | No injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 1990 | American AA-1 | Cherokee, Alabama, United States | Troy Uptain | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 1993 | Piper PA-28-140 | Clayton, Alabama, United States | Kaiser, James R. | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Jul 1993 | Hughes 369HS | Talladega, Alabama, United States | Allison, David C. | Fatal | 1 |
| 28 Jul 1993 | Cessna 172M | Harvest, Alabama, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Jun 1993 | Sikorsky S-76A | Cullman, Alabama, United States | Southern Company Services, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 1993 | Luscombe 8A | Lillian, Alabama, United States | Peterson, Charles H. | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 Jan 1993 | Piper PA-28-140 | Brilliant, Alabama, United States | Thomas, Aaron S. | Fatal | 2 |