Amateur-built AA-1C accident near Port Townsend, Washington, November 15, 1990
On November 15, 1990 at about 5:15 am local time, a amateur-built AA-1C, registered N9583U, was destroyed in an accident near Port Townsend, Washington. It was an instructional 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 1990 · about 5:15 am local time
- Place
- Port Townsend, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-1C
- Registration
- N9583U · registry record · serial AA1C0022
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED HE EXTENDED THE PATTERN DOWNWIND FOR DEPARTING ACFT. WHEN THE AIRPLANE TURNED FROM DOWNWIND TO BASE, PWR WAS REDUCED, CARB HEAT WAS APPLIED AND FLAPS WERE EXTENDED A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE STUDENT TOLD THE INSTRUCTOR SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. THE FLT INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER AND APPLIED PWR WITHOUT ENG RESPONSE. THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO LAND AT THE ARPT AND AN EMERGENCY OFF FIELD LANDING WAS MADE. DURING THE DESCENT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A PWR POLE AND NOSED OVER. DURING THE ENGINE INSPECTION THERE WERE NO NOTED MECHANICAL AILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED. THE TEMP AND DEWPOINT SPREAD INDICATE THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATING IN SERIOUS ICING CONDITIONS FOR CRUISE OR CLIMB POWER.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 22,500 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 10,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,600 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 am from NUW, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.