American General Aircraft AA-1 accident near Bartow, Florida, October 8, 2003
On October 8, 2003 at about 4:20 pm local time, a American General Aircraft AA-1, registered N5668L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bartow, Florida (Bartow Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to oil starvation. Also causal was the pilot's improper maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2003 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Bartow, Florida · Bartow Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American General Aircraft AA-1
- Registration
- N5668L · no longer on the register · serial 0068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he did an oil change and forgot to add new oil. He further stated that after taking off, the engine ceased operating and he made a forced landing a short distance from the airport. During the landing the airplane incurred damage.
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: 400 hours in all; 49 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,731 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 2002; 56 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: KBOW Bartow at 12:20 pm
- Destination: KGIF Winter Haven FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from KBOW
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.