# NTSB NYC96LA170: Grumman American AA-1B, N9611L, Tafton, PA, August 17, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 1996, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Tafton, PA - Coordinates: 41.400161, -75.179977 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4002&lon=-75.1800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39231 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39231/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA170 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of speed and distance during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot's first approach to the 2,200-foot paved strip was high and fast, and he performed a go-around. During his second approach, he touched down about 700 feet from the approach end and applied brakes. The pilot determined that there was insufficient distance remaining to abort the landing, and the airplane ran off the end of the runway down an embankment. The Owner's Manual listed the total required landing distance to be 1,320 feet, with a ground roll of 520 feet, to clear a 50 foot obstacle. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 1996, at 1020 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-1B, N9611L, was substantially damaged when it ran off the end of the runway at a private airstrip in Tafton, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, about 0945. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that his first approach to runway 30, a 2,200 foot paved strip, was high and fast, and he performed a go-around. He further stated: "...Extended downwind and resulting final to approach between 70-65 knots. Touched down approximately 700 feet from approach end, began applying brakes. Judged remaining length and speed insufficient for abort. Continued braking and ran over end of runway, down a 50 foot embankment..." According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's report, witnesses confirmed the events related by the pilot, and that the pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane. He also stated that the damage to the airplane occurred during the impact at the bottom of the embankment. The Owner's Manual listed landing distances to clear 50 foot obstacles, for hard surface runways, airplane at maximum gross weight, flaps down, no wind, and at an indicated airspeed of 78 MPH. The manual listed a total required distance of 1,320 feet, with a ground roll of 520 feet, on a runway at 2,000 feet pressure altitude, and 52 degrees F outside air temperature. The pilot's total flying experience was about 119 hours of which 62 hours were as pilot-in-command. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9611L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9611L-1999-06-24), registration cancelled 1999-06-24, S/N AA1B-0265, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-1B - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1b) (registry code 3960103) (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: 0265 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hortman Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MPO, MOUNT POCONO, PA - Destination: NONE - Airport: NONE, Mountain Bay, runway 30, 2,200 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 119 total, 117 in this make and model, 62 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AVP, 20 nm away ## 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 19960817029819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960817029819A), Aug 17, 1996: Gulstm AA1B, Tafton, PA, Substantial damage. Overran Private strip landing. Ran down embankment. Was on his second try for landing. ## Other investigations on N9611L (1) 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 ATL80FIJ04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL80FIJ04), Jul 5, 1980: Grum Amer AA1-B (N9611L), Philippi, WV, 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. --- 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.