# NTSB DEN84FA159: Grumman American AA-1C, N9803U, Rapid City, SD, May 23, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 23, 1984, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Rapid City, SD
- Coordinates: 44.070316, -103.230285 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0703&lon=-103.2303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16215
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16215/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA159

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - proper climb rate - not attained, dual student (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Nose over, other

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH ROLLING TERRAIN WHILE ON A DUAL TRAINING FLT. THE CFI STATED THAT THE STUDENT PLT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING A SIMULATED ENGINE OUT FORCED LANDING WHEN HE RAISED THE NOSE TOO HIGH. THE CFI AND STUDENT WERE DISCUSSING THE TERRAIN WHEN THE CFI NOTICED A HIGH SINK RATE AND TOOK THE ACFT CONTROLS. WITH POWER ON, ACCORDING TO THECFI, THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND. HE SAID THAT JUST PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT HE RAISED THE NOSE ABRUPTLY TO ALLOW THE LANDING GEAR TO ABSORB THE IMPACT. THE ACFT WAS IN A 25 DEGREE BANK AT IMPACT SO THE RIGHT WING ABSORBED THE SHOCK AND WAS SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT WHICH PIVOTED ABOUT 120 DEGREES AND NOSED OVER. NO MALFUNCTION OF EQUIPMENT WAS REPORTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9803U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-1C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0129
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Silver Wings Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Alberta C. Welch
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 1983, 10 hours before
- Departed: RAP
- Destination: RAP

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,463 total, 500 in this make and model, 165 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °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 19840523018529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840523018529A), May 23, 1984: Gulstm AA1C, Rapid City, SD, Substantial damage. During a simulated emergency landing aircraft encountered downdraft and crashed when aircraft was unalbe to climb.

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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