# NTSB ATL88LA240: American AA-1A, N9392L, Fairhope, AL, August 28, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 28, 1988, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Fairhope, AL
- Coordinates: 30.509817, -87.879096 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5098&lon=-87.8791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA240
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7804/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA240

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause)
  - proper altitude - not used, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - control interference - performed, passenger (cause)
  - panic, passenger (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THE ENG LOST PWR 'WITHOUT WARNING' AS HE & HIS PAX WERE FLYING OVER WATER NEAR THE SHORE AT APRX 500'. HE PERFORMED EMERG PROCEDURES & REGAINED PARTIAL PWR, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO CONT FLT. HE MANEUVERED TOWARD THE SHORE, THEN ELECTED TO DITCH THE ACFT TO AVOID OBSTRUCTIONS & PSNL ALONG THE BEACH. AS THE ACFT NEARED THE WATER, THE PAX GRABBED THE YOKE & PULLED BACK. THE ACFT THEN STALLED & DOVE INTO THE WATER. THE PAX CONFIRMED THAT SHE HAD 'HELD ON' THE YOKE JUST BEFORE IMPACT. THE PAX & SVRL WITNESSES RPRTD THE ACFT WAS FLYING LEVEL AT ABOUT 50' (INSTEAD OF 500) WHEN THE ENG LOST PWR. WITNESSES WHO RESCUED THE PLT & PAX RPRTD THEY OBSERVED FUEL FLOATING ON THE WATER WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE ACFT BY BOAT AFTER THE ACDNT. BEFORE AN INVESTIGATOR ARRIVED, THE OPERATOR DISASSEMBLED THE ENG & PLACED THE COMPONENTS IN DIESEL OIL TO PREVENT CORROSION. AN EXAM OF THE DISASSEMBLED ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREEXISTING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 89 & 69 DEG. ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS SHOWED CARB ICE PSBL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9392L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9392L-1990-06-27), registration cancelled 1990-06-27, S/N AA1A0092 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN AA-1A
- Registry model: [American AA-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1a) (registry code 0630710) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA1A-0092
- Airframe hours: 2571
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gulf Coast Aero Club
- Registered owner: Greimel, Robert S
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1987, 194 hours before
- Departed: MOB, MOBILE, AL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 462 total, 15 in this make and model, 408 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MOB, 20 nm away

## 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 19880828035609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880828035609A), Aug 28, 1988: Gulstm AA1A, Fairhope, AL, Substantial damage. Buzzed harbor at 30 feet. Engine quit,passenger panicked, pulled back yoke. Aircraft stalled. Crashed into water.

## Other investigations on N9392L (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 IAD76DKW01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD76DKW01), Jul 3, 1975: Amer Avco AA1-A (N9392L), Collegedale, TN, substantial damage

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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