American AA-1 accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, September 4, 1993
On September 4, 1993 at about 7:55 pm local time, a American AA-1, registered N5765L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Tuscaloosa Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FOULED SPARK PLUGS ON THE NUMBER 2 AND 3 CYLINDERS, AND A LACK OF COMPRESSION ON THE NUMBER 1 AND 4 CYLINDERS, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH VEGETATION AT THE FORCED LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1993 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama · Tuscaloosa Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American AA-1 · all AA-1s on the register
- Registration
- N5765L · no longer on the register · serial AA1-0165
- 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 RPM BEGAN TO DECAY DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, HE MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT TO A NEARBY FIELD. HE FORCE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN HIGH GRASS, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRFRAME RECEIVED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 2 AND 3 CYLINDER SPARK PLUGS WERE FOULED, AND WOULD NOT PRODUCE A SPARK. A COMPRESSION CHECK SHOWED NO COMPRESSION ON THE NUMBERS 1 AND 4 CYLINDERS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 278 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 220 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,571 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1993; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MGM Montgomery AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from TCL, 1 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.