American Aviation AA-1A accident near Cleburne, TX
On June 24, 2021, an American Aviation AA-1A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cleburne, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 24, 2021
- Place
- Cleburne, TX
- Aircraft
- American Aviation AA-1A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.352°N, 97.494°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210625103344
Official records · CEN21FA290
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 24, 2021, at 1714 central daylight time, an American Aviation AA-1A airplane, N9261L, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Cleburne, Texas. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Flight track data showed that the airplane departed Cleburne Regional Airport (CPT), Cleburne, Texas, about 1658 and flew south then northeast toward Keene, Texas. After the airplane made a tight left 360° turn over Keene, it proceeded west and overflew CPT. The airplane continued west at an altitude about 2,600 ft msl for another 3 miles. During the last 10 seconds of the recorded data, the flight track showed a hard right turn, immediately followed by a left spiraling descent toward the ground (see figure). There were no recorded air traffic control communications during the flight. Figure 1. End of flight track and accident location A witness, who was located about 1/2 mile south of the accident site, stated that he observed the airplane “going straight down,” but he did not see it impact the ground. An in-flight video from the passenger’s cell phone was uploaded to his social media account. The video started by showing the airplane’s left wing, then panned right to show the front of the cockpit, then showed the pilot in the right seat. The pilot had his left hand on the control yoke, a tablet connected to the yoke, and a cell phone in his right hand. The canopy was open about 8 to 10 inches. Based on the cockpit instruments, the airplane was about 1,960
Probable cause
The canopy moving fully open during flight, which resulted in the pilot’s distraction and a subsequent aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control.
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Browse: Texas · 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.
