Grumman American AA-1B accident near Boulder, CO
On August 20, 1996, a Grumman American AA-1B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Boulder, CO. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 20, 1996
- Place
- Boulder, CO
- Aircraft
- Grumman American AA-1B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.040°N, 105.369°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06484
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 20, 1996, approximately 1310 mountain daylight time, a Grumman American AA-1B, N6505L, collided with trees while climbing and impacted terrain near Boulder, Colorado. The student pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed by the impact and a post crash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The local flight originated at Boulder, Colorado, on August 20, 1996, approximately 1000. The Boulder County Sheriff's Office received the first call of a downed airplane approximately 1315. Witnesses reported seeing an airplane matching the description of N6505L prior to the accident (see "Witness Location Map" attached). Witness No. 1 was hiking on Green Mountain approximately the 7,000 to 7,100 foot level. He said the airplane "flew into view from the front (east side) of Green Mountain. The plane proceeded, at an elevation below my position, to fly up Gregory Canyon into the mountains. The plane turned to the north behind Flagstaff Mountain and disappeared below the horizon into Boulder Canyon...The plane that crashed was flying into a headwind at or slightly below the elevation of Flagstaff Mountain (elevation 6,960 feet). I lost sight of the plane when it entered Boulder Canyon...My elevation was above that of Flagstaff (Mountain), so the plane would have to have been down in Boulder Canyon...The plane that crashed was very low...There was no indication of engine trouble or of any other trouble with the flight." Witness No. 2
Probable cause
The pilot's poor judgment in attempting low altitude flight in mountainous terrain without adequate mountain flying training which led to low altitude maneuvering exceeding the climb capability of the airplane. Factors in the accident were: the pilot's overconfidence in his personal ability, lack of experience in flying in mountainous terrain, lack of familiarity with the geographic area, and the
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Browse: Colorado · Grumman American aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
