# NTSB SEA02LA079: Grumman American AA-1B, N321D, South Prairie, WA, May 11, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 11, 2002 - Place: South Prairie, WA - Coordinates: 47.152221, -122.093887 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1522&lon=-122.0939&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54678 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54678/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54678 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA079 ## Probable cause 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N321D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N321D), registered now, S/N AA1B0321, built 1974 (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: AA1B-0321 - Airframe hours: 1743 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - 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 ## 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 20020511011129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020511011129A), May 11, 2002: Amrgen AA1B, South Prairie, WA, No damage. (-23) A domestic pleasure flight operated by non-pilot (student pilot 1993-1995), owner of aircraft. Aircraft landed long, ran off the north end of the runway,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54678. 393 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 315 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40165755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF 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.