Amateur-built AMERICAN AEROLIGHT accident near Springville, Alabama, October 27, 1984
On October 27, 1984 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AMERICAN AEROLIGHT, registered N953AA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springville, Alabama. It was a personal flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1984 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Springville, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AMERICAN AEROLIGHT AMERICAN A
- Registration
- N953AA · registry record · serial 400157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT APRX 150 FT THE PLT HEARD A NOISE AND OBSERVED A FIRE INVOLVING THE REAR PORTION OF THE ACFT. THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK RUPTURED AND BURNING FUEL WAS SUCKED AFT THROUGH THE PUSHER PROP. THE BALLISTIC PARACHUTE WAS DEPLOYED AND OPENED AS THE ACFT HIT A 60 FT TALL TREE. THE PLT STATED THE OPINION THAT THE FUEL TANK MOUNTING ASS'Y MAY HAVE FAILED ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO FALL ONTO THE ENG. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE MOLDED FUEL TANK WAS BROKEN.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 36 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 840 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Springville AL at 9:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:30 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.