York Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

York, Pennsylvania 17364
Wednesday, June 26, 2002 11:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to takeoff, the pilot owner reminded the private pilot of the high air temperature and density altitude. The private pilot initiated a takeoff from the 5,188-foot long asphalt runway; however, he climbed at an airspeed of 60 to 70 mph, rather than the normal climb speed of 85 to 90 mph. The airplane subsequently settled into a cornfield, and came to rest inverted. Both pilots reported that there were no problems with the airplane or engine. The winds were light and variable at 3 knots. The temperature was 86 F, and the density altitude was about 2,300 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed, which resulted in a stall/mush into a corn field. A factor was the high density altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/26/2002
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1150
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City York
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17364
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 395501N
Event Location Longitude 0765202W
Event Location Airport York Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID THV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 170
Airport Elevation 480
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID THV
Elevation of weather observation facility 480
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2299
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13420
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern Region Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 26 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1315
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 13 2003 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5684L
NTSB Number NYC02LA125
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman American
Aircraft Model AA-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AA1-0084
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 29 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 2000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dale S. Doutrich
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Hellam
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17406
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code THV
Departure City York
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1153
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N71
Destination City Marietta
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 13 2003 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 5188
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --