# NTSB ERA12CA377: Grumman American Avn. AA-1B, N1608R, Lawrence, MA, May 31, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 31, 2012, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Lawrence, MA - Coordinates: 42.717498, -71.128051 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7175&lon=-71.1281&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA\FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83819 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA377 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83819/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83819 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA377 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=3960103), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=3960103), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3960103), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3960103), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis After flying for about 40 minutes without incident, the pilot returned to the departure airport to practice touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. The pilot stated that she landed on the 3,900-foot-long runway as she normally did for a full-stop landing. She retracted the flaps, adjusted the trim, and advanced the throttle. As the airplane lifted off the ground, the pilot became concerned that it was too far down the runway and too close to the ground to clear trees that were located beyond the departure end of the runway. She elected to abort the takeoff and was not able to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. The airplane departed the end of the runway, rolled through grass, down an embankment, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its empennage. The pilot reported that the airplane did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident. She further stated that she may have taken too much time to transition the airplane for takeoff after landing and also thought that if she had committed to the takeoff, the airplane would have adequately cleared the trees. ## Factual narrative After flying for about 40 minutes without incident, the pilot returned to the departure airport to practice touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. The pilot stated that she landed on the 3,900-foot-long runway, as she normally did for a full-stop landing. She retracted the flaps, adjusted the trim, and advanced the throttle. As the airplane lifted off the ground, she became concerned that it was too far down the runway, and too low above the ground, to clear trees that were located beyond the departure end of the runway. She elected to abort the takeoff, and was not able to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. The airplane departed the end of the runway, rolled through grass, down an embankment, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its empennage. The pilot reported that she did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident. She further stated in retrospect, that she may taken too much time to transition the airplane for takeoff after landing, and also felt that if she had committed to the takeoff, the airplane would have adequately cleared the trees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1608R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1608R-2013-04-24), registration cancelled 2013-04-24, S/N AA1B-0608, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-1B - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1b) (registry code 3960103) (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: AA1B-0608 - Airframe hours: 3125 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 16, 2011, 3 hours before - Departed: LWN, Lawrence, MA - Destination: LWN, Lawrence, MA - Airport: LWN, Lawrence Municipal, runway 32, 3,900 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,400 total, 1,377 in this make and model, 1,279 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: LWM ## 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 20120531009029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120531009029A), May 31, 2012: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-1B, Lawrence, MA, Substantial damage. The pilot reported while doing a touch and go she took too much time to adjust the trim for takeoff and retract the electric flaps. The pilot stated by the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83819. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 833 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369514&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement Provided to FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 383 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369685&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20Provided%20to%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Lawrence Airport Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369515&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Lawrence%20Airport%20Weather%20Observations%20-Master.PDF - Photograph # 1 - View of airplane after recovery (provided by FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369519&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%20-%20View%20of%20airplane%20after%20recovery%20(provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.