Pilot Debrief

Grumman American AA-1C near Philadelphia, PA — 2008-05-22

Final reportNYC08FA189
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Date
2008-05-22
Location
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Airport
PNE
Aircraft
Grumman American AA-1C
Registration
N9555U
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall.

NTSB narrative

The instructor and student pilot had completed one touch-and-go landing and the airplane was in the departure climb, when the pilots were instructed by an air traffic controller to "make right traffic." The airplane entered a right turn, and was observed at a "high angle of attack" just prior to entering a descending 90-degree right bank. The airplane struck a parked trailer and skided across the ground, coming to rest under a row of parked trailers. A post-crash fire ensued. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no pre-impact mechanical anomalies. The Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) for the airplane listed a stall speed of approximately 65 mph at a bank angle of 20 degrees, and 90 mph at a bank angle of 60 degrees. The POH listed a rotation speed between 60 and 65 mph and a normal climb speed of 95 mph.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not acknowledge ATC instruction to make right traffic after takeoff.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ATC audio
  • Video
  • Photos
  • 22 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents22

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