Amateur-built AA-1B accident near Oak Hill, Florida, June 19, 2001
On June 19, 2001 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-1B, registered N8957L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oak Hill, Florida. 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
A partial loss of engine power while at a low altitude cruise due to fuel contamination, and the subsequent emergency descent and landing to a rural road resulting in collision with tree and mailbox post.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2001 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Oak Hill, Florida · 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
- N8957L · no longer on the register · serial AA!B-0407
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, 15 minutes after departure and 5 minutes after switching fuel source from left wing tank to right wing tank, he started losing engine rpm's as well as fuel pressure indications. He was at such an altitude, (1,200 feet, agl) that he had no time to complete the "engine failure during cruise" checklist, and executed an emergency landing to a rural road. The pilot and a passenger escaped injury, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Postcrash testing of all fuel and ignition components, as well as the core engine revealed no malfunctions. Evidence of fuel contamination was found in fuel samples taken from the carburetor bowl, and disassembly examination of the carburetor revealed other, caked contaminate in the recesses of the carburetor bowl. The aircraft was STC'ed for use of automotive fuel, and 87 octane automotive fuel was being used at the time of the accident.
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: 116 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 20, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,299 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 2000; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TIX Space Coast Reg FL at 3:30 pm
- Destination: EVB New Smyrna FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 13,000 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 1:46 pm from TIX, 21 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.