# NTSB ATL83FA060: Grumman American AA-1B, N1621R, Summerville, WV, December 11, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 11, 1982, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Summerville, WV
- Coordinates: 38.280406, -80.840614 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2804&lon=-80.8406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 11, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72756
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72756/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FA060

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ON 12/10/82, THE STUDENT PLT DEPARTED ON A SUPERVISED SOLO X-COUNTRY FROM MOUNDSVILLE, WV TO HUNTINGTON, WV, WHITE SULPHER SPRINGS, WV AND BACK TO MOUNDSVILLE. WX CONDS DETERIORATED DRG THE 1ST 2 LEGS OF THE FLT AND THE STUDENT'S FLT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) TOLD HIM TO WAIT FOR THE WX TO IMPROVE. THE STUDENT OBJECTED, BUT RMND OVR NGT. WHEN THE WX DID NOT IMPROVE THE NEXT DAY, THE STUDENT INSISTED HE COULD NOT REMAIN ANOTHER DAY. THE CFI APPROVED A FLT ACROSS THE NEXT RIDGE TO LEWISBURGH, WV, NOT BEYOND, AND SAID HE WOULD ATMT TO PICK HIM UP IN THE AFTERNOON. AFTER THE STUDENT ARRIVED AT LEWISBURGH, THE WX WORSENED (ICG CONDS) & THE CFI CANCELED HIS FLT TO PICK UP THE STUDENT. THE STUDENT INDCD HE WOULD FIND A PLACE TO STAY OVR NGT & TOLD THE CFI HE WLD CALL IN 1-2 HRS. WHEN THE CFI DID NOT GET A CALL, HE INITIATED A RAMP CHECK, THEN A SEARCH. THE STUDENT'S PLANE WAS FOUND WHERE IT FLEW INTO THE SIDE OF A MTN AT NGT. NO PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1621R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1621R-2014-09-10), registration cancelled 2014-09-10, S/N AA1B-0621, built 1976 (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-0621
- Airframe hours: 2610
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Mountain State Aviation
- Registered owner: David N. Board
- Departed: LWB, LEWISBURG, WV
- Destination: 74D, MOUNDSVILLE, WV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 23 total, 15 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Temperature: 86 °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 19821211063509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821211063509A), Dec 11, 1982: Gulstm AA1B, Summersville, WV, Destroyed. Student pilot departed at dusk into deteriorating weather with snow,fog and low clouds. Flew into a mountainside.

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.

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