Aviat Aircraft INC A 1B accident near Geneva, Florida, November 2, 2016
On November 2, 2016 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2001 Aviat Aircraft INC A 1B, registered N54HY, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Geneva, Florida. It was a banner-towing 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
A partial loss of engine power due to debris in the No. 1 cylinder that damaged the spark plugs.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2016 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Geneva, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft INC A 1B B, built 2001 · all A 1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N54HY · registry record · serial 2130
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot reported that, about 10 minutes into the banner tow flight, the engine began to run roughly. He adjusted the throttle, propeller lever, mixture, and carburetor heat; however, the engine started to backfire and continued to lose power. The pilot performed a precautionary landing on a race track; during the landing roll, the airplane struck a fence before coming to rest. The engine continued to operate during the landing roll until the airplane struck the fence. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 1 cylinder top and bottom spark plug electrodes exhibited mechanical damage; no mechanical damage was noted on the other spark plugs. The No. 1 piston looked like it was "sandblasted" compared to the other cylinders. Further disassembly of the engine was performed; no debris was noted in the carburetor box, carburetor, and No. 1 cylinder. Maintenance was performed on the engine 2 days before the accident to troubleshoot "hard starting, low static RPM, and a rough engine." The maintenance entry indicated that both No. 1 cylinder spark plugs were damaged and that new spark plugs were installed. A comparison of the photographs of the spark plugs removed from the No. 1 cylinder during maintenance and the spark plugs removed from the No. 1 cylinder after the accident showed similar mechanical damage. Although no debris was found during the postaccident examination, it is likely that both sets of No. 1 spark plugs were damaged by debris in the No. 1 cylinder; the source of the debris could not be located.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Damaged/degraded
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,650.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 3, 2016; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 4,571 hours total
- Operator: Aerial Messages Of Daytona & Sales INC
The flight
- Departed from: X50 New Smyrna Beach FL at 3:50 pm
- Destination: ORL Orlando FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from SFB, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on December 10, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo - Damage to Right Wing (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Log Excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photographs of Spark Plugs (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Memorandum of Record - FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Memorandum of Record - Mechanic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.