American AA-1A N9261L

Summary

On 24 June 2021 at about 22:14 local time, a American AA-1A registered N9261L was involved in an accident near Cleburne, Texas, 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

24 June 2021 at 22:14

Classification

Accident

Location

Cleburne, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Cleburne Rgnl (CPT)

Coordinates

32.3524, -97.4938

Aircraft

American AA-1A

Registration

N9261L

Category

Airplane

Year built

1971

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cleburne → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21FA290

2 people died.

The canopy moving fully open during flight, which resulted in the pilot’s distraction and a subsequent aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were conducting a local sightseeing flight. A video uploaded to the passenger’s social media, recorded about 6 minutes after takeoff, showed the pilot with his left hand on the control yoke, a tablet connected to the yoke, and a cell phone in his right hand. The airplane’s canopy was open about 8 to 10 inches. Flight track data showed that, about 10 minutes later, while in cruise flight at an altitude about 2,600 ft mean sea level, the airplane entered a hard right turn immediately followed by a left spiraling descent toward the ground. A witness observed the airplane in a vertical descent but did not see the impact. The airplane impacted a rural field with minimal forward momentum. The sliding canopy was found separated from the fuselage on the front right side of the wreckage. The canopy screw knob lock was found mostly unscrewed or loosened. Damage to the canopy and witness marks on the rear fuselage were consistent with the canopy position fully open during impact. According to the pilot’s family, he would typically fly with the canopy partially open when increased airflow was necessary to cool the cockpit. A placard in the airplane indicated that the canopy could be opened to halfway in flight and that flight was not allowed with the canopy fully open. The airplane’s engine monitor data were consistent with normal engine operation before the turning descent; however, during the descent, the manifold pressure was low, which is consistent with a closed throttle plate. The data are consistent with a commanded throttle reduction and not a loss of engine power, which would have indicated a value closer to outside barometric pressure. The canopy moving to a fully open position in flight would have significantly increased drag and presented a major distraction for the pilot. During the turning descent, it is likely that the pilot pulled the throttle to idle in attempt to slow the airplane and regain control. The airplane ultimately entered an aerodynamic stall and subsequent spin from which the pilot was unable to recover with the altitude available.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.