# NTSB NYC01LA019: American AA-1A, N9375L, White Plains, NY, October 23, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 2000, 09:12 local (13:12 UTC) - Place: White Plains, NY - Coordinates: 41.049861, -73.739128 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0499&lon=-73.7391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50509 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50509/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA019 ## Probable cause An improperly planned approach which resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## 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 - base leg/base to final - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was on a right base leg to Runway 29, when the airplane overshot the turn to final. He further reported that he increased the bank to return to runway centerline. The airplane suddenly entered an accelerated stall about 200 feet above the ground, and struck the runway. The FAA inspector reported the airplane touched down on centerline of Runway 29, in the middle of the displaced threshold. It then departed the right side of the runway and came to rest. A small fire developed under the fuselage, which was extinguished. The winds were from 060 degrees at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On October 23, 2000, at 0912 Eastern Daylight Time, an American AA-1A, N9375L was substantially damaged while landing at Westchester County Airport (HPN), White Plains, New York. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, that originated at Barnes Municipal Airport (BAF), Westfield, Massachusetts. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated: "I was # 2 to the airport on a right base for Runway 29. The # 1 A/C was on final to Runway 34. Upon turning right base to final for Runway 29, I noticed I was being blown to the left of the Runway 29 centerline. I attempted to get back on centerline with additional bank, but remember saying to myself not to bank too steeply. At that point the A/C suddenly apparently went into an accelerated stall at about 200 ft AGL. The A/C seemed to impact the runway in a wallowing mushy attitude. Loss of control seemed very sudden...." According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a witness observed the airplane in a steep right bank, turn final, then descend toward the runway. The airplane was observed to strike the runway in a right wing low attitude, bounce, and then depart the runway on the right side. After the airplane came to rest, a fire developed under the fuselage. Several people grabbed fire extinguishers and proceeded to the scene. The occupants were assisted in exiting the airplane, and the airport fire-fighting personnel extinguished the fire. The FAA inspector further reported the initial touchdown occurred on runway centerline, in the middle of the displaced threshold for Runway 29. The airplane came to rest prior to crossing taxiway ALPHA, and the start of the landing area. He also reported that the landing gear had collapsed rearward, and the propeller was bent. Wrinkles were observed on both wings, the fuselage, and firewall. Gouge marks were also visible in the displaced threshold surface. The winds were from 060 degrees at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9375L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9375L-2013-04-26), registration cancelled 2013-04-26, S/N AA1A-0075, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: 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-0075 - Airframe hours: 2168 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thaddeus J. Witowski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 2000, 47 hours before - Departed: BAF, WESTFIELD, MA - Destination: HPN - Airport: HPN, Westchester County Arpt, runway 29, 4,451 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,525 total, 1,622 in this make and model, 2,525 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HPN ## 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 20001023038929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001023038929A), Oct 23, 2000: Amrgen AA1A, White Plains, NY, No damage. (-23) The pilot in command stated that while turning base to final he used excessive bank in an attempt to avoid going "through the final". He believes that… 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.