# NTSB NYC86FHA02: Gulfstream American AA-1, N224Y, Pottstown, PA, March 16, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: March 16, 1986, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: Pottstown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.250003, -75.639717 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2500&lon=-75.6397&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30215
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC86FHA02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30215/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86FHA02

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - planned approach - not attained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - interpretation of instructions - inaccurate, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - initiated, pilot in command(cfi)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - failure,total
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
  - landing gear,main gear - failure,total
  - wing - overload
  - wing - failure,total

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH AN EMBANKMENT SHORT OF THE INTENDED RWY. A CFI WAITING ON THE TAXIWAY FOR CLEARANCE TO TAKEOFF STATED THAT THE ACFT APPEARED TO BE OK ABOUT 200 FT FROM THE THRESHOLD OF THE RWY. THEN IT APPEARED TO SLIP TO THE LEFT AND TURN 90 DEGREES TO THE RT IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE IMPACT WAS NOT OBSERVED DUE TO THE HEIGHT OF THE EMBANKMENT. THE INSTRUCTOR IN THE ACCIDENT ACFT STATED THAT WHEN HE ASKED THE STUDENT PLT FLYING THE ACFT TO ADD POWER TO DECREASE THE ACFT SINK RATE THE STUDENT CLOSED THE THROTTLE. THE CFI PUSHED THE THROTTLE FOR FULL POWER BUT TOO LATE TO OVERCOME THE SINK RATE. THE CFI THEN ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A ROAD BY THE EMBANKMENT. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE ATTEMPTED LANDING AND THE ACFT ENDED UP AGAINST THE EMBANKMENT MINUS THE LEFT WING, LEFT MAIN LNDG GEAR AND NOSE GEAR. THE DIRECTION OF THE ROAD WAS ABOUT 90 DEGREES OFF THE RWY HEADING. THERE WERE 4 CUTS IN THE ROAD FROM THE ACFT PROP RANGING IN DEPTH FROM 1/8 TO 3/4 INCHES DEEP AND 15 INCHES WIDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N224Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM AMERICAN AA-1
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA1-0015
- Airframe hours: 1582
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: James V. Davis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 1985, 13 hours before
- Departed: N46, LIMERICK, PA
- Destination: N47, POTTSTOWN, PA
- Airport: N47, Pottstown Municipal, runway 25, 2,700 × 75 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,435 total, 7 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19860316007939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860316007939A), Mar 16, 1986: Gulstm AA1, Pottstown, PA, Substantial damage. Landed short and collided with an embankment. Student mistakenly reduced power when sink developed.

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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