# NTSB NYC83LA138: Grumman American AA-1, N5962L, Mechanicsburg, PA, June 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1983, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Mechanicsburg, PA
- Coordinates: 40.209365, -77.000633 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2094&lon=-77.0006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35200
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83LA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35200/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83LA138

## 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
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - performance data - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft performance,takeoff capability - exceeded (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded (cause)
- Complete gear collapsed, takeoff - initial climb
  - landing gear,main gear strut - overload (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED DURING TAKEOFF AND WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT SLID OVER LOGS IN THE ROLL-OUT AREA. THE PILOT HAD 3 HOURS IN THE MAKE AND MODEL OF ACFT. TAKEOFF WAS FROM A PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP WHICH WAS ROUGH AND UPHILL IN THE DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF. WHEN A CRASH WAS IMMINENT THE PILOT TURNED TO AVOID A TREE STUMP AND CRASH LANDED. ALL LANDING GEAR WERE DESTROYED ALONG WITH THE WINGS AS THE ACFT SLID OVER LOGS. THE FUSELAGE WAS TWISTED AND ONE PROP BLADE WAS SLIGHTLY BENT. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5962L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5962L-1983-11-10), registration cancelled 1983-11-10, S/N AA1-0262 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-1
- Registry model: [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (registry code 0630610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0262
- Airframe hours: 1785
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Vans Richards
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 26, 1982, 0 hours before
- Departed: MECHANICSBURG, PA
- Destination: CARLISLE, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,590 total, 3 in this make and model, 5,252 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19830609024929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830609024929A), Jun 9, 1983: Gulstm AA1, Mechanicsburg, PA, Substantial damage. Misjudged aircraft performance. Unable to climb after liftoff from uphill strip. Impact with dead logs severed gear

## Other investigations on N5962L (2)

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 MKC75DTK04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC75DTK04), Oct 4, 1974: Amer Avco AA-1 (N5962L), N Sioux Cty, SD, substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA74DLG10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA74DLG10), Aug 30, 1973: Amer Avco AA-1 (N5962L), Conway, SC, 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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