Grumman AA-1C accident near Union Hall, Virginia, June 13, 1991
On June 13, 1991 at about 2:54 pm local time, a Grumman AA-1C, registered N9755U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Union Hall, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BROUGHT ON BY A FAILURE OF THE NUMBER THREE CLYINDER EXHAUST VALVE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A HIDDEN OBJECT ON THE EMERGENCY LANDING FIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1991 · about 2:54 pm local time
- Place
- Union Hall, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1C
- Registration
- N9755U · registry record · serial AA1C0114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS AT CRUISE ALTITUDE WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. HE TRIED TO ANALYZE HIS PROBLEM WITH NO SUCCESS. HE THEN EXPERIENCED A FURTHER POWER LOSS AND ELECTED TO DIVERT TO A NEARBY AIRPORT. THE ENGINE COULD NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH POWER TO MAINTIAN ALTITUDE SO THE PILOT FOUND IT NECESSARY TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A HIDDEN OBSTRUCTION WHICH TORE AWAY THE LEFT AND NOSE LANDING GEAR.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 333 hours in all; 279 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 277 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,557 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W03 Wilson NC at 2:15 pm
- Destination: BKW Beckly WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from ROA, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.