American Aviation Corp. (Aac) AA-1A accident near Smithville, Texas, March 12, 1984
On March 12, 1984, a American Aviation Corp. (Aac) AA-1A, registered N9460L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Smithville, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 1984
- Place
- Smithville, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- American Aviation Corp. (Aac) AA-1A
- Registration
- N9460L · no longer on the register · serial 0260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT NON-INSTRUMENT PLT RECEIVED TWO WX BRIEFINGS FOR HIS ROUTE OF FLT FROM MADISON, MS, TO LUFKIN, TX, TO COLLEGE STATION, TX, TO SAN ANTONIO, TX. THE LAST BRIEFING FROM COLLEGE STATION FSS INFORMED THE PLT THAT MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS EXSISTED ALONG THE ROUTE AND SAN ANTONIO WAS REPORTED IFR. THE PLT DEPARTED COLLEGE STATION AND REPORTED THATWHEN NEAR LOCKHART, TX, A DESCENT TO 1500 FT MSL WAS PERFORMED TO MAINTAIN IN VMC. WHEN ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT AUSTIN APCH FAILED THE PLT TURNED AROUND TO PROCEED TO SMITHVILLE, TX, AND SAID HE OVER COMPENSATED FOR THE X-WIND AND BECAME DISORIENTED. AFTER FLYING AROUND FOR SOMETIME IT BEGAN TO GET DARK SO THE PLT DECIDED TO LAND ON A ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE ACFT AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A FENCE.
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: 769 hours in all; 662 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 742 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,239 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 14R Caldwell TX at 11:00 pm
- Destination: San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from AUS, 31 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.