Amateur-built AA-1B accident near Arcadia, Wisconsin, November 14, 1993
On November 14, 1993 at about 7:50 am local time, a amateur-built AA-1B, registered N9896L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arcadia, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power for an undetermined reason(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 1993 · about 7:50 am local time
- Place
- Arcadia, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-1B
- Registration
- N9896L · no longer on the register · serial AA1B-6496
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 2000 FEET WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LOSE POWER. THE PILOT PERFORMED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES (APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, CHANGED FUEL TANKS, AND TRIED LEFT AND THEN RIGHT MAGNETOS) TO NO AVAIL. THE ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY JUST AS THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY ON RADIO FREQUENCY 121.5 MHZ. THE PILOT PREPARED FOR A NIGHT FORCED LANDING WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AND BECAME ENTANGLED IN A GROUP OF 50 FOOT OAK TREES. ENGINE CONTINUITY, COMPRESSION, IGNITION, INDUCTION AND FUEL SYSTEMS WERE FIELD TESTED. NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE ALL COVERED WITH BLACK SOOTY DEPOSITS. A CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART OBTAINED FROM A DOT/FAA/CT-82/44 PUBLICATION PREDICTS SERIOUS ICING AT CRUISE POWER WITH THE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXISTING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT (TEMPERATURE 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, DEW POINT OF 38 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT).
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: 330 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 304 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EAU Eau Claire WI at 7:10 am
- Destination: LSE Lacrosse WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:48 am from LSE, 34 miles away
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.