Amateur-built AA-1B accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 22, 1998
On March 22, 1998 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-1B, registered N9940L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The complete loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1998 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-1B
- Registration
- N9940L · registry record · serial 0450
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power, followed by a forced landing, near Tulsa, Oklahoma. The airplane was receiving flight following from Tulsa approach control and descending from 4,500 feet to 3,000 feet, when the 'power suddenly reduced, surged and reduced.' The pilot stated that the carburetor temperature gauge indicated 47 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot switched the fuel tank selector switch from the left to the right tank, but there was no change in engine performance. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and was assigned vectors to a nearby airstrip. The airplane was 100 yards from the runway when the engine lost complete power. The airplane contacted muddy terrain short of the intended field and slid 50 feet, coming to rest inverted on a fence. The pilot reported that fuel was dripping on him as he exited the airplane. The airplane and engine were examined at the site by an FAA inspector and subsequently at the ILIFF Aircraft Repair and Service Co., Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 24, 1998. No mechanical anomalies were found that could have contributed to the loss of power.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 447 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 353 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,206 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 23, 1998; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,642 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 309 Afton OK at 8:00 pm
- Destination: RVS Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 008° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from TUL, 55 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW98LA154.