# NTSB FTW84FA127: American AA-1A, N9480L, Lampasas, TX, February 6, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 6, 1984, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Lampasas, TX
- Coordinates: 31.060976, -98.180496 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0610&lon=-98.1805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21105
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84FA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21105/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84FA127

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND ALONG THE EAST BANK OF THE COLORADO RIVER AT ABOUT A 45 DEG ANGLE TO THE HORIZON IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT WAS PLANNING A SPRINGTIME CANOE TRIP DOWN THE RIVER. HIS FATHER SUSPECTED THAT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CHECKING THE RIVER IN PREPARATION FOR THIS TRIP WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY MALFUNCTTION OF THE ACFT SYSTEMS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9480L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN AA-1A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA1A-0280
- Airframe hours: 1680
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles Robert Walker
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 1983, 42 hours before
- Departed: F2S, WAXAWACHIE, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 521 total, 65 in this make and model, 492 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19840206002209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840206002209A), Feb 6, 1984: Gulstm AA1A, Lampasas, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft crashed on riverbank of the Colorado river. Pilot was suspected of checking river for planned canoe trip.

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.