Grumman American Avn AA1B N8969L

Summary

On 19 July 2015 at about 01:25 local time, a Grumman American Avn AA1B registered N8969L was involved in an accident near Lititz, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 July 2015 at 01:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Lititz, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Lancaster (LNS)

Coordinates

40.1058, -76.2764

Aircraft

Grumman American Avn AA1B

Registration

N8969L

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lititz → Lititz

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA15LA276

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine found no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that he and a student pilot were performing touch-and-go landings in the airport traffic pattern at night; the instructor was flying the airplane. While on the downwind leg for the third and final landing, he reduced the engine power and the engine subsequently experienced a partial loss of power. The instructor switched the fuel tank selector and attempted to restore power, but was unsuccessful. He then performed a forced landing to a cornfield, during which the airplane nosed over. The instructor's statement did not address whether he used carburetor heat during the accident flight, and the carburetor heat control was found in the full-forward (off) position. An examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airframe or engine. The spark plugs were light gray in color and exhibited normal wear. The fuel quantity onboard the airplane at the time of the accident could not be determined. Although the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at glide power, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.