Grumman AA-1B accident near Millstadt, Illinois, May 20, 1984
On May 20, 1984 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Grumman AA-1B, registered N8973L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millstadt, Illinois (Rla airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- May 20, 1984 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Millstadt, Illinois · Rla · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1B
- Registration
- N8973L · no longer on the register · serial AA1B0425
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS STALLED DURING THE LANDING APPROACH OVER TREES TO AN 1800 FT STRIP. AFTER CLEARING THE TREES THE PLT REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE WHILE APRX 30 FT AGL. THE ACFT STALLED, CONTACTED THE SOFT PLOWED SOIL AND NOSED OVER ABOUT 150 FT SHORT OF THE RWY.
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: 965 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,626 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 1983; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Millstadt IL at 7:15 pm
- Destination: Millstadt IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,880 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from CPS, 6 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.