# NTSB MIA04CA001: American General AA-1, N5668L, Bartow, FL, October 8, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 8, 2003, 12:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Bartow, FL - Coordinates: 27.947778, -81.778053 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9478&lon=-81.7781&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando - NTSB case key (mKey): 58193 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04CA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58193/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04CA001 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to oil starvation. Also causal was the pilot's improper maintenance. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - maintenance - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,oil - starvation/exhaustion - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated that he did an oil change and forgot to add new oil. He further stated that after taking off, the engine ceased operating and he made a forced landing a short distance from the airport. During the landing the airplane incurred damage. ## Factual narrative On October 8, 2003, about 1220 eastern daylight time, the pilot of an American General AA-1, N5668L, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight, made a forced landing after takeoff from Bartow Municipal Airport, Bartow, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane incurred substantial damage, and the private-rated pilot received minor injuries. The passenger was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he was maintaining the airplane and he had performed an oil change on the day of the accident. He said he went to do other things and forgot to add new oil to the airplane, and after takeoff, the airplane's engine ceased operating. He said he made a forced landing about a mile from the airport and during the landing the airplane incurred damage to the right wing and fuselage. An FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that he checked the airplane, and he could not find any evidence of oil in the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5668L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5668L-2013-04-22), registration cancelled 2013-04-22, S/N AA1-0068, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American General Aircraft 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: 0068 - Airframe hours: 1731 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C2C 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roy V. Dowdy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 2002, 56 hours before - Departed: KBOW, Bartow - Destination: KGIF, Winter Haven, FL - Airport: BOW, Bartow Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 49 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KBOW ## 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 20031008031199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031008031199A), Oct 8, 2003: Amrgen AA1, Bartow, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft had just performed an engine oil change at Bartow municipal airport, but he failed to add new oil. He departed… ## Other investigations on N5668L (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 FTW71FRA39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71FRA39), Jan 27, 1971: Amer Avco AA1 (N5668L), Friendswood, TX, substantial damage 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.