Grumman AA-1C accident near Madison, Indiana, July 27, 1989
On July 27, 1989 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Grumman AA-1C, registered N39035, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madison, Indiana (Madison In airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE CFI'S DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION TO REGAIN CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENTS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1989 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Indiana · Madison In · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1C
- Registration
- N39035 · no longer on the register · serial AA1C0195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI AND STUDENT PLT, WHO HAD NOT FLOWN IN THE LAST 90 DAYS, HAD COMPLETED THE BASIC AIRWORK PORTION OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLT AND RETURNED TO THE ARPT TO PRACTICE PATTERN WORK. ON FIRST TOUCH AND GO LANDING, THE STUDENT HAD A FIVE KNOT CROSSWIND SIXTY DEGREES TO THE LEFT. ON TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. THE STUDENT ADDED FULL POWER AGGREVATING THE DRIFT. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL AND TRIED TO GET THE ACFT AIRBORNE, BUT LANDED IN UNEVEN TERRAIN TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. THE ACFT SLID INTO A DITCH COLLPASING THE RIGHT MAIN 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 735 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 708 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hfg, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from SDF, 42 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.