# NTSB CHI89LA148: Grumman AA-1C, N39035, Madison, IN, July 27, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 27, 1989, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Madison, IN
- Coordinates: 38.750926, -85.38034 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7509&lon=-85.3803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14390/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA148

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE CFI'S DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION TO REGAIN CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENTS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - touch-and-go - attempted, dual student
  - lack of recent total experience, dual student (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

THE CFI AND STUDENT PLT, WHO HAD NOT FLOWN IN THE LAST 90 DAYS, HAD COMPLETED THE BASIC AIRWORK PORTION OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLT AND RETURNED TO THE ARPT TO PRACTICE PATTERN WORK. ON FIRST TOUCH AND GO LANDING, THE STUDENT HAD A FIVE KNOT CROSSWIND SIXTY DEGREES TO THE LEFT. ON TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. THE STUDENT ADDED FULL POWER AGGREVATING THE DRIFT. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL AND TRIED TO GET THE ACFT AIRBORNE, BUT LANDED IN UNEVEN TERRAIN TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. THE ACFT SLID INTO A DITCH COLLPASING THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39035](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39035-2020-04-03), registration cancelled 2020-04-03, S/N AA1C0195 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-1C
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1C](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1c) (registry code 3960100) (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: AA1C0195
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Hfg, Inc.
- Registered owner: Hfg, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: IMS, Madison In, runway 3, 3,200 × 60 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 735 total, 26 in this make and model, 708 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SDF, 42 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 19890727025459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890727025459A), Jul 27, 1989: Gulstm AA1C, Madison, IN, Substantial damage. On landing student let plane veer left,CFI ordered go around,wing dipped on liftoff.CFI too late to prevent crash

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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