Gulfstream American AA-1A N9364L

Summary

On 16 August 1998 at about 23:42 local time, a Gulfstream American AA-1A registered N9364L was involved in an accident near Erial, New Jersey, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 August 1998 at 23:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Erial, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Gulfstream American AA-1A

Registration

N9364L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ocean City → Philadelphia

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC98LA168

1 person had minor injuries.

Catastrophic failure of the number 2 engine cylinder, emanating from a corrosion pit on the outside cylinder wall. A factor was the pilot's diminished forward visibility due to oil on the windshield.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While at 1,500 feet, the engine developed a slight vibration. The pilot checked the fuel pump on, the mixture rich, and changed fuel tanks. The vibrations increased, and were accompanied by smoke. The pilot heard an explosive 'bang' and the cowling came up into his line of vision. Oil covered the pilot's side of the windscreen, and the engine was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane struck a telephone pole during the forced landing. Post flight inspection revealed a catastrophic failure of the engine's number two cylinder. Factory examination determined that the failure emanated from a rust pit on the outside of the cylinder wall. The cylinder, which was manufactured in July 1996, had 1,780 hours of service.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.