# NTSB NYC88LA148: Grumman AA-1B, N9981L, Dover, PA, May 30, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 30, 1988, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Dover, PA
- Coordinates: 39.999992, -76.839401 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0000&lon=-76.8394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36153
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36153/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA148

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE:  FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT OBSTRUCTIONS NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY (SIGN, STONE FENCE & TREE).

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - aborted
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - sign (contributing factor)
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AFTER THE ACFT HAD BECOME AIRBORNE & WAS ABOUT 20 FT ABOVE THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 50 FT FROM THE DEP END OF THE RWY & WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT DRG THE OCCURRENCE, THE TAIL OF THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SIGN NEAR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY, WHICH WAS LOCATED ABOUT 100 FT BEFORE THE DEP END & EXTENDED 8 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. THE ACFT THEN HIT A STONE FENCE & A TREE BEFORE COMING TO REST. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRFRAME OR ENG WAS FOUND. DRG AN OPNL CHECK, THE ENG RAN NORMALLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9981L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9981L-1993-03-04), registration cancelled 1993-03-04, S/N AA1B0281 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-1B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1b) (registry code 3960103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA-1B-0261
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gilbert O. Stout
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: Lazy B Ranch, runway 5, 2,640 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 234 total, 125 in this make and model, 167 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19880530071439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880530071439A), May 30, 1988: Gulstm AA1B, Dover, PA, Substantial damage. Unable to climb out of ground effect due to nose high liftoff warm and humid. Tail hit sign. Settled into a fence.

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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