American AA-1B N30JL

Summary

On 24 February 2021 at about 17:50 local time, a American AA-1B registered N30JL was involved in an accident near St Johns, Arizona, United States. One person was 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

24 February 2021 at 17:50

Classification

Accident

Location

St Johns, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

St Johns Industrial Air Park (SJN)

Coordinates

34.5186, -109.3788

Aircraft

American AA-1B

Registration

N30JL

Category

Airplane

Year built

1972

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Goodyear → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA118

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s decision to operate with a demonstrated crosswind velocity above the airplane’s performance capabilities which resulted in a loss of airplane control and collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, before his departure, he recorded the airport’s automated weather report as wind from 220° at 15 kts gusting to 21 kts. He then elected to perform the takeoff from runway 32 as runway 21 was too short for his performance needs. During takeoff he found it difficult to hold the runway centerline with full right rudder and even had to apply some right brake. The rudder control improved as his airspeed increased and the pilot was able to successfully transition the airplane into the initial climb. After the airplane lifted off the ground, the pilot was forced to place the airplane in a crab angle to counteract the wind. The pilot felt comfortable at this point and chose to continue with the departure; however, almost instantaneously the airplane descended and bounced and came to rest in dirt. The right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather report released about 30 minutes after the accident revealed that the airport was impacted by a peak wind from 250° at 26 kts that occurred at the time of the accident, which translated to a crosswind component of about 24 kts. The maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity for the airplane was 16 kts.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.