# NTSB ATL05CA120: Grumman American AA-1B, N100XX, Durham, NC, July 3, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 2, 2005, 20:45 local (Jul 3, 2005, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Durham, NC - Coordinates: 36.060001, -78.783332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0600&lon=-78.7833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro - NTSB case key (mKey): 61857 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61857/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA120 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Factors were soft and wet terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis After a routine run-up the pilot began a short field takeoff from a private grass runway. Approximately 1300 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane lifted off the runway but failed to accelerate to an airspeed that would allow for a positive rate of climb. The airplane settled back onto the runway surface and began to "skip off the runway." Approximately 1000 feet from the end of the runway the pilot chose to abort the takeoff and brought the throttles back to idle. Approximately 300 feet from the end of runway 32, the airplane began to veer to the left side of the runway and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane rested about 250 feet from the end of the runway. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane, and the post-accident examination failed to disclose a mechanical problem with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 2005, approximately 2045 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-1B airplane, N100XX, owned and operated by a private owner, collided with the ground at Lake Ridge Aero Park Airport, in Durham, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and passenger received no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Lake Ridge Aero Park Airport Durham, North Carolina, at approximately 2045, July 2, 2005. After a routine run-up the pilot began a short field takeoff from a private grass runway. The pilot stated that, approximately 1300 feet into the takeoff role the airplane lifted off the runway but failed to accelerate to an airspeed that would allow for a positive rate of climb and the airplane began to "skip off the runway." Approximately 1000 feet from the end of the runway the pilot brought the throttles back to idle, and chose to abort the takeoff to avoid possibly hitting trees at the end of runway 32. With 400 feet of runway left, the pilot nosed the plane downward and attempted a forced landing back onto the runway surface. The airplane proceeded to bounce off the grass runway and the pilot stated that the "controls became sluggish." At this point the pilot elected to ground loop the airplane. Approximately 300 feet from the departure end of the runway, the airplane began to veer to the left of centerline and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane rotated 360 degrees, and rested 250 feet from the departure end of the runway. The post-accident examination revealed that the left wing, nose gear and right main gear were each torn from the airframe. No Mechanical malfunction or component failure was disclosed during the post-accident examination of the airplane. Nor did the pilot report a problem with the airplane during the attempted landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N100XX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N100XX), registered now, S/N AA1B-0578, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-1B - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1b) (registry code 3960103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA1B-0578 - Airframe hours: 2365 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stell Blake Askew III - Registered owner: Stell Blake Askew - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2005, 8 hours before - Departed: 8NC8, Raleigh, NC - Destination: 8NC8, Raleigh, NC - Airport: 8NC, Lakeridge Aero, runway 32, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 730 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 79 °F ## 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 20050702013959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050702013959A), Jul 2, 2005: Amrgen AA1B, Durham, NC, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot attempted to takeoff from a soft field during warm and very humid conditions. The aircraft lifted off normally however once airborne, the… 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. --- 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.