# Accident 20150718016229A: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-1B, Lititz, PA, July 18, 2015 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 18, 2015, 21:30 local time - Place: Lititz, PA - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Landing: Approach - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 40.1058° N, 76.2764° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1058&lon=-76.2764&mi=10 - Aircraft: N8969L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8969L-2015-12-19) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Grumman American Avn. AA-1B (registry code 3960103, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1b) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-1B - Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 320 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15LA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA276) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150718016229A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON JULY 18, 2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 2100 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A GRUMMAN AMERICAN AIRCRAFT, MODEL AA1B, SERIAL NUMBER AA1B-0419, N8969L, IMPACTED TERRAIN AT A CORNFIELD LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON BASE LEG OF A LANDING AT LANCASTER AIRPORT (LNS) AFTER PERFORMING 2 TOUCH-AND-GOES WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN THE CORNFIELD ON ITS ROOF. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT ON THEIR OWN AND REFUSED MEDICAL TREATMENT FROM EMS PERSONNEL AT THE SCENE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE FLIGHT WHICH DEPARTED FROM LNS. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS PROVIDED BY INSPECTOR MARTIN FROM THE HARRISBURG FSDO: INSPECTOR FROM ROCHESTER FSDO REQUESTED ASSISTANCE IN INVESTIGATION OF AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT OCCURRING AT LANCASTER AIRPORT, PA. THE REQUEST WAS FOR VERIFICATION OF ENGINE INTEGRITY/CONTINUITY AFTER AN OFF-FIELD LANDING CAUSED BY LOSS OF POWER/STOPPAGE. INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT ENGINE ON-SCENE REVEALED NO OBSERVABLE ANOMALIES WITH THE ENGINE. SPARK PLUGS WERE INSPECTED FOR CONDITION WITH NO APPARENT DISCREPANCIES. THE PROPELLER WAS ROTATED BY HAND, AND ALL CYLINDERS EXHIBITED THUMB COMPRESSION. THE IMPULSE COUPLING WAS ALSO OPERATIVE. UNABLE TO DETERMINE STATUS OF FUEL QUANTITY AT THE ENGINE, AS THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN INVERTED FOR ALMOST 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS INSPECTION. THE PILOT HOLDS A COMMERCIAL PILOT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE AND FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) FIRST-CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, WHICH WAS ISSUED ON JULY 16, 2015. THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED A BI-ANNUAL FLIGHT REVIEW ON 8/22/2014, AND AN INSTRUMENT PROFICIENCY CHECK ON 7/13/2015. THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED GROUND, KNOWLEDGE AND FLIGHT REQUIREMENTS FOR CFI (CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR) ON 6/23/2015 AND WAS ISSUED A TEMPORARY AIRMAN CERTIFICATE FOR FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ON 6/24/2015.ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S FLIGHT LOG BOOK, THE PILOT HAS ACCUMULATED AN ESTIMATED 320 TOTAL HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. THE 2053 EDT WEATHER OBSERVATION AT LNS INCLUDED WIND FROM THE EAST AT 4.6 MPH, 10 MILES VISIBILITY, SCATTERED CLOUDS, TEMPERATURE 75.9 F, DEW POINT 68 F, ALTIMETER SETTING 29.90 INCHES OF MERCURY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED TO A HANGAR AT THE LANCASTER AIRPORT FOR THROUGH EXAMINATION. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON 3/20/2015, 3010 HRS AIRCRAFT TOTAL TIME AND 1078 HRS SINCE ENGINE MAJOR OVERHAUL. A REVIEW OF APPLICABLE ADS FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES. NTSB ID # ERA15LA276 ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 ERA15LA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA276), Jul 19, 2015: Grumman American Avn. AA1B (N8969L), Lititz, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine found no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal… ## Other reports on N8969L (4) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19810921061469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810921061469A), Sep 21, 1981: Grumav AA1B (N8969L), Marietta, PA, Substantial damage. Student landed long, aircraft went off runway. - [Incident 19810726061819I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810726061819I), Jul 26, 1981: Grumav AA1B (N8969L), Marietta, PA, Minor damage. Student solo bounced and damaged nose gear strut and propeller blade tip. - [Accident 19771113037939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771113037939A), Nov 13, 1977: Grumav AA1B (N8969L), Hornell, NY, Substantial damage - [Accident 19750426008099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750426008099A), Apr 26, 1975: Grumav AA1B (N8969L), New Paltz, NY, Substantial damage From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- 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.