- Date
- June 19, 2000, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Nashua, NH
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N761XAGrumman American AA-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 4, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000619019139A
- Case key
- 49472
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The flight instructor's delayed corrective action.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Approximately a week before the accident, the instructor went over soft-field takeoffs with the student, and then again, on the day of the accident for 5 to 10 minutes. The student started the engine, and taxied to the runway for the first takeoff of the day. The airplane rolled onto the runway, the student advanced the throttle, and the airplane accelerated. During the takeoff sequence, the airplane developed a minor pitch oscillation. Also, the nose of the airplane moved left, and then right. Directional control stabilized, and then the airplane 'veered sharply' to the right. As the airplane departed the right side of the runway, the instructor took control, but was unable to maneuver it back onto the runway. The airplane entered a wood area, and came to a stop. The instructor secured the airplane, and both he and his student exited unassisted.
Factual narrative
On June 19, 2000, at 1130 Eastern Daylight Time, a Grumman American AA-1, N761XA, was substantially damage during takeoff, when it departed the right side of Runway 32 at Boire Field Airport, Nashua, New Hampshire. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the instructor, approximately a week before the accident, he went over soft-field takeoffs with the student during a ground school session. Then again, on the day of the accident for 5 to 10 minutes while sitting in the airplane before starting the engine. The student started the engine, and taxied to the runway for the first takeoff of the day. The airplane rolled onto the runway, the student advanced the throttle, and the airplane accelerated. During the takeoff sequence, the airplane developed a minor pitch oscillation. Also, the nose of the airplane moved left, and then right. Directional control stabilized, and then the airplane "veered sharply" to the right. As the airplane departed the right side of the runway, the instructor took control, but was unable to maneuver it back onto the runway. The airplane entered a wood area, and came to a stop. The instructor secured the airplane, and both he and his student exited unassisted.
The student had almost completed his training and planned to take his private pilot check-ride the following week. The instructor added that as a student gets closer to taking their check-ride, he tries to let them recover from deviations.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N761XA
- Reported as
- Grumman American AA-1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA1-0306
- Airframe hours
- 3,830
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 125 lbs thrust, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gary Schossnagle
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 2000 · 80 hours before
- Departed
- ASH
- Airport
- ASH · Boire Field, runway 32, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,448 total · 35 in this make and model · 3,256 as pilot in command · 98 in the last 90 days · 36 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,800 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ASH
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.