Amateur-built AA-1C accident near Richmond, Indiana, January 5, 1989
On January 5, 1989 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-1C, registered N39000, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richmond, Indiana. 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 PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF WITH A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 1989 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Richmond, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-1C
- Registration
- N39000 · no longer on the register · serial AA1C0175
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER WAS EXPERIENCED AT ABOUT LIFT-OFF. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF AND APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH WORSENED THE POWER LOSS. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A PLOWED FIELD DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, NOR CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR CARBURETOR ICING. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 42 DEGREES F, AND THE DEW POINT WAS 27 DEGREES F. THE PILOT DID NOT OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.
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: 1,230 hours in all; 143 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,942 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1988; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RID at 7:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from DAY, 30 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.