- Date
- February 2, 1990, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Cherokee, AL
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5755LAmerican AA-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900202001499A
- Case key
- 8110
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Carburetor ice due to the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat, and failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane after the engine lost power. The weather (carburetor icing) condition was a related factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot experienced a reduction in engine power about 400 feet above the ground while performing a rolling maneuver. This was the third roll near his home as his family watched. Reportedly, the engine 'stalled,' the pilot lost control of the airplane, and it crashed in a wooded area. Weather conditions were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing. The airplane was not certified for rolls. Wreckage examination failed to disclose any preimpact part failure or malfunction. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5755L
- Reported as
- American AA-1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA1-0155
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C2C, 108 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Troy Uptain
- Registered owner
- Unknown
- Departed
- MSL · Muscle Shoals, AL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Observed at
- MSL, 25 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.