Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74100
Sunday, March 22, 1998 14:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power, followed by a forced landing, near Tulsa, Oklahoma. The airplane was receiving flight following from Tulsa approach control and descending from 4,500 feet to 3,000 feet, when the 'power suddenly reduced, surged and reduced.' The pilot stated that the carburetor temperature gauge indicated 47 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot switched the fuel tank selector switch from the left to the right tank, but there was no change in engine performance. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and was assigned vectors to a nearby airstrip. The airplane was 100 yards from the runway when the engine lost complete power. The airplane contacted muddy terrain short of the intended field and slid 50 feet, coming to rest inverted on a fence. The pilot reported that fuel was dripping on him as he exited the airplane. The airplane and engine were examined at the site by an FAA inspector and subsequently at the ILIFF Aircraft Repair and Service Co., Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 24, 1998. No mechanical anomalies were found that could have contributed to the loss of power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The complete loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/22/1998
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City TULSA
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 74100
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID TUL
Elevation of weather observation facility 677
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 55
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 8
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 531
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 22 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1725
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2001 11:55AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9940L
NTSB Number FTW98LA154
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman American
Aircraft Model AA-1B
Aircraft Series Identifier AA-1B
Aircraft Serial Number 0450
Certified Max Gross Weight 1642
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 23 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 2206
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SAM H. MCVAY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3019 E 95TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City TULSA
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 74137
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 309
Departure City AFTON
Departure State OK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RVS
Destination City TULSA
Destination State OK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2001 6:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --