# NTSB FTW73DRA18: Amer Avco AA1B, N6278L, Spring, TX, March 18, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 18, 1973
- Place: Spring, TX · SPRING, TX
- Location: 30.0621° N, 95.3837° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spring, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0621&lon=-95.3837&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169856
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73DRA18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73DRA18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0408  73/3/18    SPRING,TEX          AMER AVCO AA1B      CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 79 TOTAL
        TIME - 1615                    N6278L              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 2 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SPRING,TEX                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- PILOT HAD 8/10 HR INSTRUCTION IN TYPE ACFT.ACFT NOT FUELED AFTER TWO PREVIOUS FLTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6278L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6278L-1977-12-13), registration cancelled 1977-12-13, S/N AA1B0078 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMER AVCO AA1B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1b) (registry code 3960103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19730318005059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730318005059A), Mar 18, 1973: Grumav AA1B, Spring, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot had 8/10 hr instruction in type acft. Acft not fueled after two previous flts.

## Other investigations on N6278L (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 FTW77FA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW77FA022), Dec 14, 1976: American AA1B (N6278L), Oklahoma City, OK, destroyed, 1 fatal

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.

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