American General Aircraft AG5B accident near Texarkana, Arkansas, September 22, 1997
On September 22, 1997 at about 12:30 pm local time, a American General Aircraft AG5B, registered N1194L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Texarkana, Arkansas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper planning/decision, by failing to ensure timely refueling of the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 1997 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Texarkana, Arkansas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American General Aircraft AG5B
- Registration
- N1194L · no longer on the register · serial 10080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The cross-country flight originated in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and was to proceed to Texarkana, Arkansas, to refuel and then proceed to the final destination of Dallas, Texas. The airplane was approximately 10 miles from Texarkana, when the engine lost power. The pilot reported that the engine lost power 4 hours 9 minutes after take off. He 'immediately' switched fuel tanks, and the engine restarted. Approximately one minute later, the engine lost power again. The pilot notified air traffic control that he had run out of fuel and would not be able to reach the airport. He initiated a forced landing to a flat, unplowed field. During a turn to the field, the airplane stalled. The pilot was able to regain control of the airplane, and continued toward the field. The airplane touched down short of the intended field, and came to rest inverted on top of 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,244 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,965 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 16, 1996; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LZU Lawrenceville GA at 8:00 am
- Destination: TXK AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from TXK, 5 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.