# NTSB ERA16LA228: American AA1, N9341L, Knoxville, TN, June 23, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2016, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Knoxville, TN - Coordinates: 35.885555, -83.956665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8856&lon=-83.9567&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93439 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93439/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93439 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA228 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in a quartering headwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: residence/building](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [American AA-1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot landed the airplane on a 2,100-ft-long, 150-ft-wide turf runway in a 15-knot right quartering headwind and lost control of the airplane after touchdown. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, proceeded in a straight line across a paved taxiway, struck a parked vehicle, and came to rest after impacting a hangar about 800 ft from the approach end of the runway. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, nor did the pilot report any. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2016, at 0830 eastern daylight time, an American Aviation AA-1A, N9341L, was substantially damaged when it impacted a parked vehicle and a hangar during landing at the Sky Ranch Airport (TN98), Knoxville, Tennessee. The private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that departed TN98 about 0730. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane landed on the left side of the centerline on runway 19, a 2,100-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, turf runway. A set of tire impressions in the turf extended from the left side of the runway in a relatively straight line, across a paved taxiway to the struck vehicle, and then continued to the airplane's final resting location at a hangar, with no indication of braking. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions The airplane came to rest with the nose section embedded in the north wall of a hangar that was located about 800 feet from the approach end of the runway, and 220 feet to the left of the runway centerline. The engine cowling and wing leading edges were crushed aft. The windscreen was fragmented and completely separated from the fuselage. The firewall was displaced and the instrument panel was buckled between the left control yoke and the panel center. The skin under the wings and along the empennage was wrinkled. The pilot reported that he has been flying locally for about 1 hour and he recalled slowing the airplane to about 65 miles per hour for landing, The pilot stated that after touchdown, he "lost control of the airplane." The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He reported a total flight experience of 585 hours; of which, 16 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. All 16 hours were flown within the 90-day period preceding the accident. McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), Knoxville, Tennessee, was located about 4 miles south of the accident site. The recorded wind at TYS, at 0853, was from 220° at 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9341L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9341L-2019-12-02), registration cancelled 2019-12-02, S/N AA1A-0041, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN AVIATION AA1 (A) - Registry model: [American AA-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1a) (registry code 0630710) (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: AA1A-0041 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 3306 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 31, 2015, 15 hours before - Departed: TN98, Knoxville, TN - Destination: TN98, Knoxville, TN - Airport: TN98, Sky Ranch, runway 19, 2,100 × 150 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 585 total, 16 in this make and model, 585 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KTYS, 4 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 20160623006529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160623006529A), Jun 23, 2016: American Aviation AA-1A, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. The airplane landed on the left side of the centerline on runway 19, a 2,100-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, turf runway. A set of tire impressions in the turf… ## Other investigations on N9341L (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC72FTK06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72FTK06), Aug 25, 1971: Amer Avco AA1-A (N9341L), Rapid City, SD, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93439. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469698&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum For The Record - Interview of FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469710&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20The%20Record%20-%20Interview%20of%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469711&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo (item 4, .PDF, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469712&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.