On April 22, 1988, a Grumman American AA-1B (registration N9603L) was involved in an aviation accident near Memphis, TN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and an in-flight loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot experienced an in-flight loss of power caused by fuel exhaustion, resulting in a forced landing in a plowed field where the aircraft nosed over.
The pilot reported that the engine lost power while the aircraft was in flight. The cause was determined to be fuel exhaustion. Following this mechanical failure, the pilot executed a forced landing in a plowed field. During the landing process, the airplane nosed over.
After the accident, the pilot noted that he should have topped off the fuel tanks prior to departure. The estimated amount of fuel on board at takeoff was 3.5 gallons.
The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and an in-flight loss of engine power.