American AA-1 accident near Cherokee, Alabama, February 2, 1990
On February 2, 1990 at about 9:45 pm local time, a American AA-1, registered N5755L, was destroyed in an accident near Cherokee, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CARBURETOR ICE DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE WEATHER (CARBURETOR ICING) CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1990 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cherokee, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American AA-1 · all AA-1s on the register
- Registration
- N5755L · no longer on the register · serial AA1-0155
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER ABOUT 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHILE PERFORMING A ROLLING MANEUVER. THIS WAS THE THIRD ROLL NEAR HIS HOME AS HIS FAMILY WATCHED. REPORTEDLY, THE ENGINE 'STALLED,' THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND IT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICING. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CERTIFIED FOR ROLLS. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES AND A POST-CRASH FIRE.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MSL Muscle Shoals AL at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Observation at 11:20 pm from MSL, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.