Amateur-built AA-1B accident near San Carlos, California, May 15, 1988
On May 15, 1988 at about 1:26 am local time, a amateur-built AA-1B, registered N9601L, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Carlos, California (San Carlos airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
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
- May 15, 1988 · about 1:26 am local time
- Place
- San Carlos, California · San Carlos · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-1B
- Registration
- N9601L · no longer on the register · serial AA1B0183
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A POST MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT PRIOR TO SIGN OFF OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A MUD FIELD COLLIDING WITH A DIKE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A FUEL PRESSURE LINE HAD DISCONNECTED FROM A 'T' FITTING AT THE CARBURETOR CAUSING FUEL STARVATION. EXAMINATION OF THE RECORDS AT THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY REVEALED THAT THE FUEL LINE HAD BEEN REPLACED DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION.
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: 361 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 270 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,134 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Trans Bay Airways Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: SQL
- Destination: SQL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:36 am from SQL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.