Grumman AMERICAN AA-1B accident near Gatesville, North Carolina, July 18, 1982
On July 18, 1982, a Grumman AMERICAN AA-1B, registered N8870L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gatesville, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1982
- Place
- Gatesville, North Carolina
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AMERICAN AA-1B AMERICAN A
- Registration
- N8870L · registry record · serial 0870
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE PILOT ADDED 1/3 FLAPS AND ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE TO CLEAR OBSTACLES. HE REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS ON SHORT FINAL, HE WAS DISTRACTED BY SEVERAL DEER THAT WERE APPROACHING THE TOUCHDOWN POINT. THE PILOT THEORIZED THAT THROUGH REFLEX ACTION, HE MUST HAVE APPLIED AFT YOKE WHICH DECREASED HIS AIRSPEED AND INCREASED HIS RATE OF DESCENT. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDE WITH TWO POWER LINES. THE POWER LINES FAILED AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED WITH THE GROUND.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,382 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gatesville NC at 8:05 pm
- Destination: Gatesville NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.