Amateur-built AA-1B accident near Culpeper, Virginia, July 4, 1997
On July 4, 1997 at about 6:59 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-1B, registered N9883L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Culpeper, Virginia. 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning which fail to provide an adequate fuel supply
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1997 · about 6:59 pm local time
- Place
- Culpeper, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-1B
- Registration
- N9883L · no longer on the register · serial AA1B-0483
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that during cruise flight at 2,500 MSL, 15 miles from his destination, the engine lost power. Subsequently, the airplane was damaged during the forced landing performed to a field. He said he topped off the tanks, and he switched fuel tanks every 1/2 hour. He said he should have had adequate fuel, as the usable fuel was 22 gallons at a rate of 6 gallons per hour. Examination of the airplane wreckage by the FAA revealed, the fuel tanks were intact, the airplane was at a right wing low attitude, and there was no fuel visible at the filler cap, the lowest point. . The left tank capillary fuel gage in the cockpit indicated a small amount of fuel. According to the hobbsmeter, the aircraft was operated three hours during this flight. According to the owner, the pilot had refueled the airplane on an incline. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies with the airplane or the engine.
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: 93 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 38 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PNE Philadelphia PA
- Destination: HEF Manassas VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from HEF, 20 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.