# NTSB NYC98LA171: Grumman American AA-1B, N9933L, Marston Mills, MA, August 23, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 23, 1998, 11:25 local (15:25 UTC) - Place: Marston Mills, MA - Location: 41.6853° N, 70.4022° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CAPE COD (2B1), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6853&lon=-70.4022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43789 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43789/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA171 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare and his delayed go-around. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis During landing to a 2,680 foot long, turf runway, the airplane bounced two times. The pilot then realized there was not enough runway remaining to make a full stop landing, and aborted the landing. Witnesses observed the airplane 'pitch way up,' turn left, and impact the trees located about 200 to 300 feet from the left side of the runway. Examination of the wreckage did not disclose evidence of any mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. ## Factual narrative On August 23, 1998, about 1125 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-1B, N9933L, was substantially damaged when it struck trees during an aborted landing at the Cape Cod Airport (2B1), Marston Mills, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Limington-Harmon Airport, Limington, Maine, about 0930, destined for 2B1. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said he was on approach to runway 27, a 2,680 foot long, 70 foot wide, turf runway. He further stated: "...from crosswind through final went fine. Just at flare the plane dropped a bit to hard, it then lifted, I settled the [airplane] back to the runway holding my flare. The plane touched again this time with more of a bounce. I settled the planes motion and that was when I realized there was not enough runway left to make a full stop landing. I then made a decision to go around...." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, witnesses at the airport observed the airplane "pitch way up," turn left, and impact the trees located about 200 to 300 feet from the left side of the runway. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA Inspector did not disclose evidence of any mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. The pilot reported about 388 hours of total flight experience, all in the make and model of the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9933L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9933L-1999-08-20), registration cancelled 1999-08-20, S/N AA1B-0233 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA1B-0233 - Airframe hours: 1358 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2H 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Herbert L. Ashby - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 1998, 38 hours before - Departed: 63B, LIMINGTON, ME - Destination: 2B1 - Airport: 2B1, Cape Cod Airport, runway 27, 2,680 × 70 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: 388 total, 388 in this make and model, 342 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HYA, 6 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 19980823021609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980823021609A), Aug 23, 1998: Amrgen AA1B, Marston Mills, MA, Substantial damage. Acft was attempting to land when it over shot the rwy and landed in the woods. (-23) pilot decided to go around because of a poor landing, lost control of… 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.