Amateur-built AA-5B accident near Navada, Texas, November 27, 2010
On November 27, 2010 at about 9:50 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-5B, registered N4541L, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Navada, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to debris obstructing the fuel filter, which resulted in fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate airspeed during the forced landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 2010 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Navada, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5B
- Registration
- N4541L · no longer on the register · serial AA5B1319
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was cruising at 3,000 feet when the engine sputtered. He switched from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank and turned the boost pump on. He said that the engine regained power, but lost power shortly thereafter, so he performed a forced landing to an open plowed field. During the landing, the airplane cleared power lines but stalled and impacted in the field. A postaccident engine examination revealed the fuel filter contained considerable debris that resembled paint chips. The pilot said the airplane had recently been painted. The engine was test run with a clean fuel filter and it operated satisfactorily. The fuel system between the fuel tanks and the electric fuel pump was pressurized and checked for leaks. Two leaks were found, and fuel stains were noted in the area of the leaks. However, it is unlikely that these two leaks could cause a loss of engine power.
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
What happened, in order
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Loss of control in flight during landing
- Fuel contamination during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Failure
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › (general) › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel filter › strainer › Damaged/degraded
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 782 hours in all; 736 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 782 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 16, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,314 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2010; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360- (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F00 Bonham TX at 9:00 pm
- Destination: F46 Rockwall TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from DAL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.