# NTSB DEN83LA195: Grumman American AA-1C, N9634U, Tea, SD, August 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 20, 1983, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Tea, SD
- Coordinates: 43.440986, -96.829689 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4410&lon=-96.8297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16141
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA195
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16141/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA195

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - throttle/power control - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE ACFT SWERVED OFF THE RWY, COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT WAS A STUDENT ON HIS 1ST SOLO AFTER OVER 42 HOURS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION. HE FLEW OVER 28 HOURS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION AND MADE ABOUT 60 LANDINGS DURING THE LAST 90 DAYS. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT THE STUDENT WAS USING RWY 16. THE WIND WAS FROM 140 DEGREES AT 4 TO 6 KTS. THIS EQUATES TO A CROSSWIND COMPONENT FROM THE LEFT OF 2 KTS. THE CFI OBSERVED THE STUDENTS FIRST SOLO LANDING. HE SAID THE ACFT DRIFTED OFF TO THE LEFT DURING THE FLARE. THE ACFT BOUNCED ON THE GRASS BESIDE THE RWY, WENT INTO A DITCH AND BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR WHEN IT HIT THE OPPOSITE EMBANKMENT. THEN THE ACFT LANDED ON ITS NOSE AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT SAID HE TRIED TO CORRECT BACK TO THE RWY DURING FLARE BUT THE ACFT 'STARTED TO GO SIDEWAYS'. WHEN HE SAW THE GRASSTHE STUDENT ADDED POWER TO GO-AROUND BUT THE STALL WARNING SOUNDED AND HE PULLED THE POWER OFF BEFORE HITTING THE DITCH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9634U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-1C (AMERICAN A)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA-1C-0079
- Airframe hours: 2854
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C (M) 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stephen R. Thompson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 22, 1983, 65 hours before
- Airport: Y14, Great Planes, runway 16, 2,500 × 45 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 42 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °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 19830820047299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830820047299A), Aug 20, 1983: Gulstm AA1C, Tea, SD, Substantial damage. Student pilot drifted off runway during landing. Hit a ditch then flipped inverted.

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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