# NTSB FTW04LA174: Grumman AA-1, N6241L, Gordonville, TX, July 4, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 2004, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Gordonville, TX - Coordinates: 33.839168, -96.809997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8392&lon=-96.8100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59555 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59555/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA174 ## Probable cause The pilot's premature lift-off and his failure to abort the takeoff. Contributing factors were the soft and muddy runway conditions and the unfavorable winds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - soft field takeoff/procedure - attempted, pilot in command - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - muddy (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The 4,333-hour pilot stated that there was an "almost direct crosswind," as the airplane attempted to takeoff from a 3,000 feet long turf runway. The runway was reported to be "soft" and the pilot expected a longer than normal takeoff roll and elected to use the "soft field" takeoff procedure. The pilot further stated that acceleration was "a bit slower than he was used to, but seemed OK." Approximately halfway down the runway, "the airplane became airborne, with a short squawk from the stall warning system." The pilot "let off some back pressure, and the airplane touched down for a few feet before getting airborne again." As the airplane passed a large tree on the departure end of the runway, the pilot reported that a "gust of wind" caught the right win, and the nose dipped down. Subsequently, the left wing impacted water before the airplane came to rest in an inverted position in a lake. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2004, approximately 0930 central daylight time, a Grumman AA-1 single-engine airplane, N6241L, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during takeoff from Cedar Mills Airport (3T0), a turf airstrip, near Gordonville, Texas. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, with Hicks Airfield (T67), near Saginaw, Texas, as its intended destination. The 4,333-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that there was an "almost direct crosswind," as the airplane departed from runway 07. The down-hill runway is 3,000 feet long and 60 feet wide, and is adjacent to a lake. The pilot further stated that the runway was soft. The pilot elected to use a "soft field" takeoff technique as he expected a longer than normal takeoff roll due to the soft runway condition. The pilot noted that the acceleration was "a bit slower than I was used to, but seemed OK." Approximately halfway down the runway, "the airplane became airborne, with a short squawk from the stall warning system." The pilot "let off some back pressure, and the airplane touched down for a few feet before getting airborne again." As the airplane passed a large tree on the departure end of the runway, the pilot reported that a "gust of wind" caught the right wing, and the nose dipped down. Subsequently, the left wing impacted water and the airplane came to rest in the inverted position in the lake. Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed structural damage to both wings and the tail section. The cockpit area, fuselage, propeller, and engine cowling also received substantial damage. At 0950, the automated surface observing system at Grayson County Airport (GYI), near, Sherman/Denison, Texas, located 10 miles southeast from the accident site, reported wind from 210 at 15 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clouds scattered at 1,700 feet, temperature 82 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 73 degrees Fahrenheit, and barometric pressure of 29.92 inches of Mercury. The density altitude was calculated by the NTSB investigator-in-charge at 2,333 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6241L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6241L-2006-01-30), registration cancelled 2006-01-30, S/N AA1-0441, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman AA-1 - Registry model: [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (registry code 0630610) (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: AA1-0441 - Airframe hours: 1995 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel Campbell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2003, 25 hours before - Departed: 3T0, Cedar Mills, TX - Destination: T67, Saginaw, TX - Airport: 3T0, Cedar Mills Airport, runway 07, 3,000 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 24, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 4,333 total, 88 in this make and model, 2,571 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: GYI, 10 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 20040704027589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040704027589A), Jul 4, 2004: Amrgen AA1, Lake Texoma, TX, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot took off from cedar mills marina in right to left crosswind. Pilot reported that he stayed low to build airspeed. Runway is lined on both sides by… 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.