American AA 1A N9239L

Summary

On 21 October 2017 at about 18:13 local time, a American AA 1A registered N9239L was involved in an accident near Maricopa, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 October 2017 at 18:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Maricopa, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Millar Airport (2AZ4)

Coordinates

33.0522, -112.1406

Aircraft

American AA 1A

Registration

N9239L

Category

Airplane

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Maricopa → Maricopa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18LA014

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid unmarked power lines during the approach to land.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a local personal flight. His son reported that his father was returning to the departure airport when the accident occurred. One witness reported that the airplane “seemed slow and too low” during the approach to land and that it struck power lines near the approach end of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane descended rapidly and impacted the runway. Several other witnesses reported that the airplane impacted unmarked power lines that were above a power line marked with orange guide balls. The pilot did not recall the accident sequence. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Given the witness statements, it is likely that, during the approach to land, the pilot allowed the airplane to drop below the glideslope, and he failed to see and avoid the unmarked power lines that were above the marked power line.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.