American Aviation Corp (Aac) AA-1A N9260L

Summary

On 29 November 1994 at about 22:05 local time, a American Aviation Corp (Aac) AA-1A registered N9260L was involved in an accident near Gastonia, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 November 1994 at 22:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Gastonia, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Gastonia Municipal Airpor (0A6)

Coordinates

35.2096, -81.2297

Aircraft

American Aviation Corp (Aac) AA-1A

Registration

N9260L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lakeway → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL95FA022

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PLAN THE FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FLIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ALSO FAILED TO MAINTAIN FLYING AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL, DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A RETURN FLIGHT FROM TEXAS. WHILE MANEUVERING FOR THE VISUAL APPROACH TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE QUIT, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A MULTI-FAMILY APARTMENT BUILDING DURING AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. EXAMINATION OF REFUELING RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE PILOT'S LAST REFUELING STOP WAS 360 MILES SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. A REVIEW OF PREVIOUS LEGS DISCLOSED THAT THE PILOT HAD NOT FLOWN MORE THAN 326 MILES ON ANY SEGMENT BEFORE A PLANNED REFUELING STOP. THE FLIGHT PLAN ALSO INDICATED THAT THE ACTUAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR A 292 MILE LEG WAS 20 GALLONS; THE PILOT HAD ESTIMATED FUEL CONSUMPTION OF 14 GALLONS FOR THE SAME SEGMENT OR SIX GALLONS LESS THAN THE ACTUAL CONSUMPTION. ON THE RETURN LEG TO GASTONIA, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILINGS AND RAIN SHOWERS. A FEW OUNCES OF FUEL WERE RECOVERED FROM THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM, AND THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS INDICATION OF FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. FUEL CONSERVATION MEASURES USED BY THE PILOT WERE NOT DETERMINED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.