# NTSB LAX83FUJ01: Grumman American AA-1B, N9897L, New River, AZ, October 19, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: October 18, 1982, 17:45 local (Oct 19, 1982, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: New River, AZ
- Location: 33.9159° N, 112.1360° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of New River, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9159&lon=-112.1360&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 18, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71998
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FUJ01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71998/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FUJ01

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED IN A STEEP DESCENDING TURN FROM DOWNWIND TO FINAL APPROACH. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT KEPT INCREASING THE BANK, WHILE TURNING TO FINAL, AS IF TO KEEP FROM OVERSHOOTING THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE. THE WITNESS DID NOT SEE THE PLANE CRASH, BUT STATED THAT THE NOSE CAME UP, JUST BEFORE HE LOST SIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. TRANSVERSE SCRAPE MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE PROPELLER AND ONE BLADE WAS BENT FORWARD. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE WAS MADE, BUT NO PREIMPACT FAILURES WERE EVIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9897L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9897L-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N AA1B-0497, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-1B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1b) (registry code 3960103) (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: AA1B-0497
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Vernon I. Hart
- Registered owner: Vernon I. Hart
- Departed: C, SURPRISE, AZ
- Destination: C, NEW RIVER, AZ
- Airport: AZ05, Pleasant Valley Airport, runway 5L, 4,000 × 158 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 996 total, 370 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Temperature: 176 °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 19821018053249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821018053249A), Oct 18, 1982: Gulstm AA1B, New River, AZ, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed when turning final for landing. Witness stated aircraft at very low altitude attempting turn.

## Other investigations on N9897L (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 MKC80FCA27](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC80FCA27), Aug 10, 1980: Grum-Amer AA-1B (N9897L), Farmington, MO, substantial damage

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.

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