# NTSB ATL98LA034: American General AA-1A, N6364L, Orlando, FL, January 18, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 18, 1998, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Orlando, FL
- Coordinates: 28.559394, -81.349044 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5594&lon=-81.3490&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3962
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98LA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3962/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA034

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain flying speed.

## Analysis

The pilot reported that as he turned from the base leg of the landing traffic pattern to the final approach he allowed the airspeed to get too slow, and the airplane stalled.

## Factual narrative

On January 18, 1998, at 1600 eastern standard time, an American General AA-1A, N6364L, collided with the ground short of runway 31 at the Orlando Executive Airport, in Orlando, Florida. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed St. Augustine, Florida, at 1515.

The pilot reported that, as he turned from the base leg of the landing traffic pattern to the final approach, he allowed the airspeed to get too slow, and the airplane stalled. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6364L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6364L-2001-02-23), registration cancelled 2001-02-23, S/N AA1A-0364 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: American General Aircraft AA-1A
- Registry model: [American AA-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1a) (registry code 0630710) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0364
- Airframe hours: 1788
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert S. Coopet
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 1997, 29 hours before
- Departed: SGJ, ST. AUGUSTINE, FL
- Destination: ORL
- Airport: ORL, Orlando Executive, runway 31, 4,638 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 269 total, 113 in this make and model, 190 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORL, 260 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 19980118000459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980118000459A), Jan 18, 1998: Amrgen AA1A, Orlando, FL, Substantial damage. Stalled turning final for landing AA1A has relatively high stall speed. (.4)the pilot reported that as he turned from the base leg of the landing traffic…

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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