Casualties unknown

1983-11-14: American AA1 (N5762L) — Harry Barr — Wiota, IA

Wiota, IA, US

On November 14, 1983, an American AA1 (registration N5762L) operated by Harry Barr was involved in an aviation accident near Wiota, IA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft experienced an engine power loss at 2,500 feet during cruise. The pilot briefly restarted the engine before it quit again. A forced landing was made in a muddy, plowed field, during which the aircraft nosed over. Investigation revealed the fuel selector was on the right tank, which was empty; the left tank contained fuel.

Accident Overview

A single-engine aircraft was operating in cruise flight at approximately 2,500 feet when the engine lost power. The pilot was able to restart the engine, but it ran only momentarily before quitting again. Forced to find a landing site, the pilot chose the best available area: a muddy, plowed field.

Forced Landing and Nose-Over

During the landing roll on the soft terrain, the aircraft nosed over. The incident resulted in damage to the aircraft. No further details regarding injuries or weather conditions were reported.

Investigation Findings

Post-accident investigation revealed that the fuel selector was positioned to the right tank, which was found to be empty. The left tank still contained fuel. This finding indicates that the engine power loss was likely due to fuel starvation caused by the selection of an empty tank. However, the official source does not explicitly state a probable cause.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X45160. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.