# NTSB FTW83LA315: Grumman AA-1B, N96585, Fort Worth, TX, July 3, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 3, 1983, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Fort Worth, TX
- Coordinates: 32.569522, -97.349746 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5695&lon=-97.3497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20960
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA315
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20960/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA315

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT DRAGGED BOTH WINGS, FIRST THE LEFT AND THEN THE RIGHT, BEFORE CONTACTING A FENCE. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL THE ACFT DURING THE LANDING BUT THE AIRSPEED WAS TOO LOW TO GO-AROUND AND COLLISION WITH THE FENCE OCCURRED. THE AFT WAS ONLY 10 FT OFF THE GROUND WHEN THE FIRST WING DRAGGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N96585 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-1B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA1B-0185
- Airframe hours: 2713
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alan Sparks
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: FORT WORTH, TX
- Airport: 9F9, Sycamore, runway 17, 3,450 × 25 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,597 total, 20 in this make and model, 1,547 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

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.