# Accident 20180524015039A: American AA-1, Port Orange, FL, May 24, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 24, 2018, 16:20 local time
- Place: Port Orange, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.0742° N, 81.0833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0742&lon=-81.0833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5787L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5787L-2022-10-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American AA-1 (registry code 0630610, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN AA-1
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 26,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA343](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA343) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180524015039A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

A GRUMMAN AA-1 AIRCRAFT ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED SPRUCE CREEK AIRPORT (7FL6) AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 PM. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PIC STATED HE MADE A LEFT DOWNWIND DEPARTURE TO THE WEST OF THE AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET STAYING CLEAR OF DAYTONA BEACH (KDAB) AIRSPACE AND CONTINUED TO THE WEST SOUTHWEST ABOUT TWO MILES WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND SHUTDOWN. AS HE LOOKED FOR AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING WITH ALL INTENTIONS OF TURNING BACK TOWARDS 7FL6, THE PIC STATED HE SWITCHED TANKS AND SUCCESSFULLY THE ENGINE RE-STARTED BUT, ONLY BRIEFLY AND THEN QUIT. HE RETURNED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE ORIGINAL TANK POSITION BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RE-START AND COULD NOT RETURN TO SPRUCE CREEK. HE THEN OBSERVED A POSSIBLE LANDING AREA WITHIN A CLEARING TO THE SOUTH AND PROCEEDED IN THAT DIRECTION. THE AIRCRAFT GLIDE PATH AND ALTITUDE WAS VERY LOW BY THIS TIME AND IT WAS UNCLEAR WHETHER HE WOULD REMAIN ABOVE THE TREES AND HAD NO OTHER OPTION BUT MAINTAIN THE SPEED, AVOIDING THE STALL, AND FINALLY RESTING THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE TREES.  PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT UPRIGHT APPROXIMATELY 1200 FEET INTO A THICK WOODED AREA SURROUNDED WITH HOMES. THE NOSE WAS SUBMERGED INTO THE SOFT GROUND. THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED IN MULTIPLE PIECES HOWEVER, THE LEFT WING REMAINED INTACT. THE TAIL FUSELAGE AND HORIZONTAL STABILATOR WERE TORN AND BUCKLED. THE DEBRIS PATH WAS CONTAINED WITHIN A SMALL AREA WITH VARIOUS PIECES IN AND AROUND THE TREES/ BRUSH THAT EXISTED. INITIALLY THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKING OR OTHERWISE ONTO THE GROUND NEAR THE SITE. THE SALVAGE CREW ARRIVED AND PULLED OUT THE AIRCRAFT WHERE FURTHER EXAMINATION CONTINUED. THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGED SUBSTANTIALLY WAS PLACED ON A FLATBED. A FUEL SAMPLE WE RECOVERED DENOTED APPROXIMATELY ONE CUP OF FUEL BETWEEN THE TWO TANKS AND DID NOT APPEAR THE TANKS WERE COMPROMISED. IN THIS CASE, GIVEN THE FINDINGS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SUFFER FROM FUEL STARVATION AND SHUT DOWN. THE PILOT BREAKING OUT A WINDOW TO ESCAPE WAS TRANSPORTED TO HALIFAX, A NEARBY HOSPITAL, WHERE HE REMAINED FOR SEVERAL DAYS, SUFFERING SEVERE INJURY TO HIS SPINE AND MULTIPLE LACERATIONS ON HIS ARMS, FACE AND FOREHEAD. VISITATION WAS BRIEF AND ALTHOUGH ALERT DID NOT ADDRESS OR RECOUNT THE EVENTS AT THAT TIME. ANY FURTHER ACTION IS ON HOLD UNTIL THE PILOT?S HEALTH HAS BEEN RESTORED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA18CA343](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA343), May 24, 2018: American AA (N5787L), Port Orange, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection of the fuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N5787L (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19730704019209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730704019209A), Jul 4, 1973: Grumav AA1 (N5787L), Stevensville, MD, Substantial damage. Acft became airborne briefly near e end of rwy imdtly settled back to gnd. Carb heat on,1FT grass.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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