# NTSB MIA92LA078: American AA-1, N6222L, Leesburg, FL, February 9, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 9, 1992, 11:14 local (16:14 UTC)
- Place: Leesburg, FL
- Location: 28.8229° N, 81.8084° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LEESBURG INTL (LEE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8229&lon=-81.8084&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33060
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92LA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33060/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92LA078

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO) WHILE MANEUVERING DURING A FORCED LANDING. THIS RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL (STALL) AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE MANAGEMENT OF FUEL.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING FOR LANDING IN VFR CONDITIONS WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PRIVATE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND REQUESTED A DIFFERENT RUNWAY. THE PRIVATE PILOT OVERFLEW THE RUNWAY IN A LEFT TURN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. DURING THE TURN ANOTHER PILOT REPORTED SHORT FINAL FOR THE SAME RUNWAY AND WAS INFORMED BY UNICOM RADIO TO CLEAR THE AREA. THE PASSENGER WITH THE PRIVATE PILOT INFORMED HER THAT THE OTHER AIRPLANE WAS NOT TURNING AWAY. THE PRIVATE PILOT BEGAN A LEFT TURN AND ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FAA REVEALED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND NOT RUPTURED. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS NOT RUPTURED AND FULL OF FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6222L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6222L-1992-09-16), registration cancelled 1992-09-16, S/N AA10422 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: American Aviation Corp. (AAC) AA-1
- Registry model: [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (registry code 0630610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0422
- Airframe hours: 2221
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sindi P. Miller
- Registered owner: Sindi P. Miller
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1991, 69 hours before
- Departed: X-16, TAMPA, FL
- Airport: LEE, Leesburg Municipal, runway 3, 4,162 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 616 total, 67 in this make and model, 579 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORL, 35 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 19920209002419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920209002419A), Feb 9, 1992: Gulstm AA1, Leesburg, FL, Substantial damage. Engine quit in pattern. Concerned over traffic turned away from airport. Stalled into trees. Selector empty tank.

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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