Grumman American Avn AA-1B N5538B

Summary

On 25 August 2013 at about 18:40 local time, a Grumman American Avn AA-1B registered N5538B, operated by C George Brockus, was involved in an accident near Valparaiso, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 August 2013 at 18:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Valparaiso, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Porter County Regional Airport (VPZ)

Coordinates

41.4539, -87.0069

Aircraft

Grumman American Avn AA-1B

Registration

N5538B

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

C George Brockus

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Valparaiso → Valparaiso

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13CA515

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he had just bought the airplane and was not familiar with it. While making his first landing he made a steep approach, hit "hard", and bounced. After the second impact the airplane exited the runway and impacted terrain. The impact resulted in a complete separation of the nose gear and substantial damage to the fuselage, the right wing and the elevator. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He also reported that the accident was his fault and would not have happened if he had only first gotten a new aircraft check-out from a flight instructor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.