# NTSB IAD00LA048: Grumman American AA-1A, N6340L, Northampton, MA, June 4, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 2000, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Northampton, MA - Location: 42.3280° N, 72.6112° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NORTHAMPTON (7B2), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3280&lon=-72.6112&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49373 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD00LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49373/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD00LA048 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. ## 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 - directional control - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - airport facilities,visual apch slope ind(vasi) - other ## Analysis The student pilot initiated a soft-field takeoff with a full 'up' elevator and a full power application. As the airplane became airborne, it drifted left off the runway towards airport lighting fixtures. The student pilot attempted to over fly the lighting after the airplane departed the runway, but the left main landing gear struck lights and the airplane nosed over. According to the FAA Advisory Circular AC-61-23C: 'The effect of torque increases in direct proportion to engine power, airspeed, and airplane attitude. If the power setting is high, the airspeed slow, and the angle of attack high, the effect of torque is greater. During takeoffs and climbs, when the effect of torque is most pronounced, the pilot must apply sufficient right rudder pressure to counteract the left turning tendency and maintain a straight takeoff path.' ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2000, at 1030 Eastern Daylight Time, a Grumman American AA-1A, N6340L was substantially damaged after collision with airport lighting and terrain during takeoff from Runway 14 at the Northampton Airport (7B2), Northampton, Massachusetts. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local solo flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the student pilot said: "During a soft field take off, I went into ground effect and the plane drifted to the left at which time the plane settled back to the ground. The plane went into the grass. [I] applied full right rudder and plane straightened out, then hit the VASI box about 20 feet in front of the plane. [I] tried to climb over [the] VASI box [but] clipped the left wheel on the VASI. [The] plane nosed over and flipped when the nose dug in. [I] turned off master switch and climbed out of the plane with no injuries." In a subsequent written statement, the student pilot said: "I pulled the yoke all the way back and applied full power. The nose came up and I could not see the runway ahead of me. The airplane became light, rendering the brakes ineffective. At the same time the aircraft started to drift left. I lowered the nose to see where I was and found I was heading towards one of the runway lights." In a written statement, the student pilot's flight instructor said: "During take off, the plane lifted barely off and went to the left. Out on the grass, [the plane] sat down and hit the VASI. Pilot tried to lift the plane over the VASI, but the left main struck it, and [the plane] tumbled over." In a telephone interview, a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector said he interviewed the student pilot. The student pilot reported 18 hours of total flight experience and said that the airplane had no mechanical deficiencies. The weather reported at Springfield, Massachusetts, 9 miles southeast of Northampton, was scattered clouds at 25,000 feet with winds from 220 degrees at 3 knots. According to the FAA Advisory Circular AC-61-23C: "The effect of torque increases in direct proportion to engine power, airspeed, and airplane attitude. If the power setting is high, the airspeed slow, and the angle of attack high, the effect of torque is greater. During takeoffs and climbs, when the effect of torque is most pronounced, the pilot must apply sufficient right rudder pressure to counteract the left turning tendency and maintain a straight takeoff path." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6340L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6340L-2013-06-13), registration cancelled 2013-06-13, S/N AA1A-0340, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-1A - 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-0340 - Airframe hours: 2311 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald D. Hoban - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 1999, 29 hours before - Departed: 7B2 - Airport: 7B2, Northhampton Airport, runway 14, 3,506 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 21 total, 15 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CEF, 9 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 20000604041289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000604041289A), Jun 4, 2000: Amrgen AA1A, North Hampton, MA, Substantial damage. (.4) The student pilot initiated a soft-field takeoff with a full 'up' elevator and a full power application. As the airplane became airborne, it drifted left… 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.