Amateur-built AA-5A accident near Denton, Texas, July 11, 2008
On July 11, 2008 at about 8:50 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-5A, registered N9678U, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Denton, Texas (Denton Muni airport). 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 pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2008 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Denton, Texas · Denton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5A
- Registration
- N9678U · no longer on the register · serial AA5A0044
- 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 prior to departing on a cross-country flight, that both of the aircraft's fuel tanks were filled with fuel. Additionally, the pilot stated that during flight she failed to switch fuel tanks. While talking to the airport's control tower and during the approach to the runway, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot elected to conduct a forced landing in a nearby field. The airplane's landing gear collapsed and the airplane was substantially damaged during the forced landing. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane, reported that the right wing fuel tank appeared empty and that the fuel selector was on the right wing fuel tank position.
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
- Fuel starvation during approach defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,059 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 995 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,732.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2008
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EOS Neosho MO at 6:30 pm
- Destination: Denton TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
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.