Amateur-built AA-1A accident near Erial, New Jersey, August 16, 1998
On August 16, 1998 at about 11:42 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-1A, registered N9364L, was destroyed in an accident near Erial, New Jersey. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Catastrophic failure of the number 2 engine cylinder, emanating from a corrosion pit on the outside cylinder wall. A factor was the pilot's diminished forward visibility due to oil on the windshield.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1998 · about 11:42 pm local time
- Place
- Erial, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-1A
- Registration
- N9364L · no longer on the register · serial A414-0064
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While at 1,500 feet, the engine developed a slight vibration. The pilot checked the fuel pump on, the mixture rich, and changed fuel tanks. The vibrations increased, and were accompanied by smoke. The pilot heard an explosive 'bang' and the cowling came up into his line of vision. Oil covered the pilot's side of the windscreen, and the engine was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane struck a telephone pole during the forced landing. Post flight inspection revealed a catastrophic failure of the engine's number two cylinder. Factory examination determined that the failure emanated from a rust pit on the outside of the cylinder wall. The cylinder, which was manufactured in July 1996, had 1,780 hours of service.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 735 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 572 as pilot in command; 253 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,937 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 1998; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 26N Ocean City NJ at 10:30 pm
- Destination: PNE Philadelphia PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from PHL, 15 miles away
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.