American Aviation Corp (Aac) AA-1A N9346L

Summary

On 28 May 2005 at about 17:05 local time, a American Aviation Corp (Aac) AA-1A registered N9346L was involved in an accident near Levittown, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 May 2005 at 17:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Levittown, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE)

Coordinates

40.1431, -74.8611

Aircraft

American Aviation Corp (Aac) AA-1A

Registration

N9346L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Philadelphia → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD05FA069

1 person died.

The pilot's improper in-flight planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the forced landing, resulting in an inadvertent stall and uncontrolled descent into trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While returning to his departure airport on a traffic reporting flight, the pilot reported a loss of power and advised that he was going to land in a field. The airplane was then observed in its final moments of flight to parallel a road, then bank to the right and strike trees in a nose down inverted attitude. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. No preimpact damage or malfunctions of the airplane or its powerplant were observed. No spillage, staining or smell of fuel was noted. The pilot was found in the right seat of the airplane. A portable video player and study materials for his flight instructors rating were found nearby and it was discovered that the pilot had on more than one occasion asked other pilots about doing maneuvers during traffic patrol flights.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.