- Date
- June 27, 2012, 11:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place
- West Chester, PA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9675UGrumman American Avn. AA-1C
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA Philadelphia FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120627013231A
- Case key
- 84110
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during an attempted go-around, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that, before entering the airport traffic pattern, he obtained the weather information, which indicated wind from 280 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. He flew the traffic pattern to runway 27, and stated that the airplane was aligned with the runway centerline when it was about 30 feet above the runway threshold. About 15 feet above the runway, the pilot felt the airplane yaw to the left, which he corrected with right rudder. The airplane then began to sink quickly, so the pilot applied full throttle while maintaining wings level in an attempt to go around. After the engine achieved full power, the airplane landed "hard" near the left side of the runway, bounced, and headed about 40 degrees left of the runway centerline. The airplane touched down once again and traveled onto a ramp where it impacted two parked airplanes. The accident airplane incurred substantial wing and fuselage damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he obtained the weather prior to entering the airport traffic pattern, which included winds from 280 degrees true at 10, gusting to 15 knots. He flew the traffic pattern to runway 27, with the airplane arriving about 30 feet above runway threshold and aligned with the runway centerline. About 15 feet above the runway, the pilot felt the airplane yaw to the left, which he corrected with right rudder. The airplane then began to sink quickly, so the pilot applied full throttle while maintaining wings level. After the engine achieved full power, the airplane landed "hard" near the left side of the runway, bounced, and headed about 40 degrees left of runway centerline. The airplane touched down once again, traveled onto a ramp and impacted two parked airplanes. The accident aircraft incurred substantial wing and fuselage damage. Postflight examination of the airplane revealed no preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9675U
- Reported as
- Grumman American Avn. AA-1C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA1C0097
- Airframe hours
- 2,708
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-235 SERIES, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 11, 2012
- Departed
- KMMU · Morristown, NJ
- Destination
- KOQN · West Chester, PA
- Airport
- OQN · Brandywine Airport, runway 27, 3,347 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 28, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 373 total · 90 in this make and model · 290 as pilot in command · 38 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- KOQN
Docket · 8
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.