# NTSB CHI89DET04: American AA-1A, N9479L, Bluffton, IN, April 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1989, 14:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place: Bluffton, IN
- Coordinates: 40.740837, -85.170021 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7408&lon=-85.1700&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14218
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89DET04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14218/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89DET04

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN A STALL/SPIN BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A TAILWIND AND WRONG RUNWAY SELECTED 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, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE PILOT ATTEMPT TO LAND ON RUNWAY 27. THE LANDING WAS ABORTED. DURING THE CLIMB OUT, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A STEEP CLIMBING RIGHT TURN. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND DESCENDED TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT A TAIL WIND EXISTED FOR RUNWAY 27. THE PILOT OF ANOTHER AIRPLANE WHICH WAS ACCOMPANYING N9479L DURING ITS FLIGHT STATED HE INFORMED THE ACCIDENT PILOT OF THE TAILWIND CONDITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9479L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9479L-1989-06-08), registration cancelled 1989-06-08, S/N AA1A0279 (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: AA-1A-0279
- Airframe hours: 1332
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Blair, H. Elbert
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 1988, 7 hours before
- Airport: C40, Miller, runway 27, 2,600 × 90 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 202 total, 30 in this make and model, 138 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FWA, 17 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 19890415008009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890415008009A), Apr 15, 1989: Gulstm AA1A, Bluffton, IN, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Aborted downwind landing,went around and stalled turning for upwind runway,hit a wing,cartwheeled. Flipped over.

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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