# NTSB WPR21LA118: American AA-1B, N30JL, St Johns, AZ, February 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 24, 2021, 10:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: St Johns, AZ · Airport Environment - Coordinates: 34.518556, -109.37875 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5186&lon=-109.3787&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 102677 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102677/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102677 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA118 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to operate with a demonstrated crosswind velocity above the airplane’s performance capabilities which resulted in a loss of airplane control and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=0630820), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0630820), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0630820), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [American AA-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0630820), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [American AA-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0630820), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American AA-1B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0630820), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, before his departure, he recorded the airport’s automated weather report as wind from 220° at 15 kts gusting to 21 kts. He then elected to perform the takeoff from runway 32 as runway 21 was too short for his performance needs. During takeoff he found it difficult to hold the runway centerline with full right rudder and even had to apply some right brake. The rudder control improved as his airspeed increased and the pilot was able to successfully transition the airplane into the initial climb. After the airplane lifted off the ground, the pilot was forced to place the airplane in a crab angle to counteract the wind. The pilot felt comfortable at this point and chose to continue with the departure; however, almost instantaneously the airplane descended and bounced and came to rest in dirt. The right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather report released about 30 minutes after the accident revealed that the airport was impacted by a peak wind from 250° at 26 kts that occurred at the time of the accident, which translated to a crosswind component of about 24 kts. The maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity for the airplane was 16 kts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30JL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30JL-2022-12-03), registration cancelled 2022-12-03, S/N AA1B-0062, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American AA-1B - Registry model: [American AA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1b) (registry code 0630820) (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-0062 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 2164 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 2020, 180 hours before - Departed: GYR, Goodyear, AZ - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SJN, St Johns Industrial Air Park, runway 14/32, 5,322 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review February 16, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 489 total, 430 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 17 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KSJN - METAR: KSJN 241754Z AUTO 25017G24KT 10SM CLR 14/M10 A3008 RMK AO2 PK WND 25026/1723 SLP138 T01441100 10144 21017 58005 ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102677. 4.1 MB in all. - Accident photographs (item 1, PDF, 5 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12020558&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12020362&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Weather-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12025973&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - E-mail correspondence, pilot (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12020713&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20email%20correspondence_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpt from pilot's operating handbook (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12020568&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20POH-Rel.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.