Grumman American AA-1C N9886U

Summary

On 7 March 2001 at about 13:15 local time, a Grumman American AA-1C registered N9886U was involved in an accident near Dekalb, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 March 2001 at 13:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Dekalb, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

41.8899, -88.7506

Aircraft

Grumman American AA-1C

Registration

N9886U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sugar Grove → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI01LA099

2 people had minor injuries.

Fuel starvation, the pilot not switching the fuel selector to the other fuel tank, and the pilot not maintaining control of the airplane through the forced landing attempt. Factors relating to this accident were the pilot's inadequate fuel management, the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decisions, the pilot's impairment(alcohol), the rough/uneven terrain, the strong tailwind and the gusts.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that he was sightseeing with a passenger in his airplane. While maneuvering, the airplane's engine lost power at approximately 1,000 feet above the ground. The pilot executed a descending left turn and made a downwind forced landing to a corn stubble field. The pilot said that he had insufficient altitude to attempt a restart. He also said that he never tried to switch the fuel selector to the other fuel tank. An examination of the airplane showed the fuel selector switch positioned to the left fuel tank. The left fuel tank showed no evidence of fuel. The right fuel tank showed fuel present. No other anomalies were revealed with the airplane. The surface winds at the accident site were estimated to be 240 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 30 knots. Blood alcohol tests conducted by local law enforcement officials on the pilot showed the pilot having a blood alcohol level of 0.08. Federal Aviation Regulation Part 91, paragraph 91.17 (a) states that no person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft while under the influence of alcohol and while having 0.04 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.