# NTSB MKC85LA206: Grumman American AA-1C, N39061, Montgomery City, MO, August 31, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 31, 1985, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Montgomery City, MO
- Coordinates: 38.970314, -91.499755 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9703&lon=-91.4998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34025
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC85LA206
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34025/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC85LA206

## 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)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

N39061 COLLIDED WITH TREES AT THE EDGE OF THE ARPT AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A 2,380 FT LONG, TURF & GRAVEL RWY. THERE WAS ON 80' LEFT CROSSWIND AT 10 KTS AND THE DENSITY ALT WAS 3,000 FT. THE ARPT OPERATOR SAID THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AT A SLOWER THAN NORMAL SPEED AFTER A LONG TAKEOFF ROLL. AS THE ACFT APPROACHED THE TREES OFF THE END OF THE RWY, THE RT WING DROPPED. THE ACFT THEN HIT THE TREES AND FELL TO THE GROUND INVERTED. NNEITHER THE STUDENT PLT NOR HIS PASSENGER WERE INJURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N39061 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-1C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA-1C-0209
- Airframe hours: 2308
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Parks College
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 3, 1985, 11 hours before
- Destination: MO50, WENTZVILLE, MO
- Airport: MO17, Montgomer-Wehrmar, runway 21, 2,380 × 80 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 63 total, 62 in this make and model, 31 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: COU, 40 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 19850831054569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850831054569A), Aug 31, 1985: Gulstm AA1C, Montgomery City, MO, Destroyed. Unable to climb over trees off end of runway after takeoff. Gravel runway and density altitude a factor.

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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