Grumman American AA-1A accident near Larkspur, CO
On July 5, 1998, a Grumman American AA-1A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Larkspur, CO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 5, 1998
- Place
- Larkspur, CO
- Aircraft
- Grumman American AA-1A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.181°N, 104.890°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10553
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 5, 1998, at 1124 mountain daylight time, a Grumman-American AA-1A, N9453L, was destroyed when it collided with terrain during an uncontrolled descent approximately 3 miles northeast of Larkspur, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Boulder, Colorado, at 1051. At 1015, the pilot telephoned the Denver Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS). After receiving a standard weather briefing, the pilot filed a VFR flight plan from Boulder, Colorado, to Pueblo, Colorado. The flight plan was activated at 1051. At 1053, the pilot contacted Denver Departure Control and requested VFR flight following services. He was assigned a discrete transponder code, identified on radar, and was given the current altimeter setting. The pilot requested an altitude of 8,500 feet, and he was instructed to maintain VFR. Control of the airplane was then transferred to the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). At 1100, the pilot advised he was level at 8,500 feet. At 1121, the pilot was advised he was leaving Denver TRACON (terminal radar control) airspace and that radar services were being terminated. The pilot reported he was encountering moderate turbulence. At 1123, the pilot reported he was encountering "quite a bit of turbulence," was returning to Boulder, and requested flight following services. He was assigned another discrete transponder code. At 1124,
Probable cause
The pilot inadvertently stalling the airplane and entering an unrecoverable spin. A factor was clear air turbulence.
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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.
