# NTSB GAA18CA343: American AA, N5787L, Port Orange, FL, May 24, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 24, 2018, 16:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Port Orange, FL - Coordinates: 29.074167, -81.083335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0742&lon=-81.0833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97468 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA343 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97468/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97468 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA343 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection of the fuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [American AA-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [American AA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [American AA-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [American AA-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [American AA-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, shortly after departure, about 1,000 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. While searching for an off-airport landing spot, he made a right turn toward the airport, positioned the fuel selector knob toward the second tank, and attempted to restart the engine. The engine restarted briefly but then lost power. He attempted to restart the engine again after he repositioned the fuel selector back to the original tank, but the engine did not start. He conducted a forced landing in a field with trees and heavy vegetation 2 miles west of the airport. The pilot added that he "should have made a positive determination of fuel on board prior to takeoff." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no distinctive fuel odor at the accident site, and only a cup of fuel was recovered from both tanks. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, shortly after departure, about 1000 ft. above ground level, the engine sustained a total power loss. While searching for an off-airport landing spot, he made a right turn towards the airport, positioned the fuel selector knob towards the second tank and attempted to restart the engine. The engine restarted briefly but lost power. He attempted to restart the engine again after he repositioned the fuel selector back to the original tank, but the engine did not start. He forced landed the airplane in a field with trees and heavy vegetation two miles west of the airport. The pilot added that he "should have made a positive determination of fuel on board prior to takeoff." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. A postaccident examination by the FAA revealed no distinctive fuel odor at the accident site and only a cup of fuel was recovered from both tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5787L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5787L-2022-10-29), registration cancelled 2022-10-29, S/N AA1-0187, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN AA (1) - Registry model: [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (registry code 0630610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA1-0187 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 2665.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 2018 - Departed: 7FL6, Daytona Beach, FL - Destination: 7FL6, Daytona Beach, FL - Airport: 7FL6, Spruce Creek - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2018; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 26,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 23,000 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KDAB, 7 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20180524015039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180524015039A), May 24, 2018: American AA-1, Port Orange, FL, Substantial damage. 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… ## Other investigations on N5787L (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 IAD74FIG01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74FIG01), Jul 4, 1973: Amer Avco AA1 (N5787L), Stevensville, MD, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 15, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97468. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 467 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467390&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467391&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation, FAA (item 3, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467392&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation,%20FAA-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.