Amateur-built AA-1B accident near Memphis, Tennessee, April 22, 1988
On April 22, 1988 at about 11:45 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-1B, registered N9603L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Memphis, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- April 22, 1988 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-1B
- Registration
- N9603L · no longer on the register · serial AA1B-0103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST PWR IN-FLT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FORCED LDG WAS MADE IN A PLOWED FIELD. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LDG. THE PLT NOTED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT HE SHOULD HAVE TOPPED OFF THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE ESTIMATED FUEL-ON-BOARD AT TAKEOFF WAS 3.5 GALLONS.
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: 638 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 563 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,895 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 29, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4M9 Corning AR at 11:40 pm
- Destination: 2M8 Memphis TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.