Grumman American AA-1C N9616U

Summary

On 10 July 2001 at about 16:58 local time, a Grumman American AA-1C registered N9616U, operated by Hortman Aviation Services, was involved in an accident near Medford, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 July 2001 at 16:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Medford, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

South Valley Regional (VAY)

Coordinates

39.9483, -74.8325

Aircraft

Grumman American AA-1C

Registration

N9616U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hortman Aviation Services

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Philadelphia → Medford

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC01FA169

2 people died.

The pilot's improper use of the flight controls while turning to base, which resulted in a stall/spin and subsequent impact with the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to a witness, the airplane was observed making a steep turn to a right base. During the turn, the airplane's tail abruptly went up, and the airplane entered a 2 1/2 spin to the right prior to impacting the ground. There was no evidence of a pre-existing mechanical failure or malfunction. According to the FAA publication Airplane Flying Handbook, section on accelerated stalls and cross control stalls, ...Stalls which result from abrupt maneuvers tend to be more rapid, or severe, than the unaccelerated stalls, and because they occur at higher-than-normal airspeeds, they may be unexpected by an inexperienced pilot. Failure to take immediate steps toward recovery when an accelerated stall occurs may result in a complete loss of flight control, notably, power-on spins... a cross control stall...is most apt to occur during a poorly planned and executed base-to-final approach turn...the airplane often stalls with little warning. The nose may pitch down, the inside wing may suddenly drop and the airplane may continue to roll to an inverted position...It is imperative that this type of stall not occur during an actual approach to a landing since recovery may be impossible prior to ground contact due to the low altitude...."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.