SEA02LA079

NTSB accident investigation · Grumman American AA-1B · South Prairie, WA · May 11, 2002

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 11, 2002
Place
South Prairie, WA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N321DGrumman American AA-1B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 24, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20020511011129A
Case key
54678

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

The pilot's improper touchdown point. Factors include a wet landing surface.

Analysis

The non-certificated pilot reported that after touchdown, he "...locked up the right wheel brake..." in an effort to avoid a fence and vehicles located at the end of the runway. Shortly thereafter, the airplane slid to the right and collided with the fence. A witness to the accident reported that the airplane touched down approximately two-thirds of the way along the 2,650-foot turf runway. After touchdown, during the landing rollout, the airplane collided with the fence that crossed (perpendicular) the departure end of the runway. The pilot stated that at the time of the accident the landing surface was wet.

Factual narrative

On May 11, 2002, about 1100 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman American AA-1B airplane, N321D, sustained substantial damage during the landing rollout at a private airstrip (02WA) near South Prairie, Washington. The airplane is registered to the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The sole occupant of the airplane, a non-certificated pilot, was not injured. There was no fire and no report of ELT activation.

During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that after touchdown he "...locked up the right wheel brake..." in an effort to avoid a fence and vehicles that were located at the end of the runway. Shortly thereafter, the airplane slid to the right and collided with the fence. The pilot stated that at the time of the accident the landing surface was wet.

A witness to the accident reported that the airplane "...appeared to be landing long..." and touched down approximately two-thirds of the way down the 2,650-foot turf runway. After touchdown, during the landing rollout, the airplane collided with a fence that crossed (perpendicular) the departure end of the runway.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

OverrunLanding
Proper touchdown point - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wetFactor
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - fenceFactor

Aircraft

Registration
N321D
Reported as
Grumman American AA-1B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
AA1B-0321
Airframe hours
1,743
Engine
Lycoming O-235, 108 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Roland K. Wright
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 4, 2002 · 4.4 hours before
Departed
WA77 · Enumclaw, WA
Destination
02WA · South Prairie, WA
Airport
02WA · South Prairie Airport, runway 34, 2,650 × 60 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
72
Injuries
None
Medical
Class 3, Expired
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,000 total · 44 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
10° at 6 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
57 °F, dew point 41 °F
Altimeter
30.29 inHg
Observed at
KTCM, 15 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 393 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.