American AA-1 accident near Gallup, New Mexico, June 30, 1985
On June 30, 1985 at about 7:15 pm local time, a American AA-1, registered N5984L, was destroyed in an accident near Gallup, New Mexico (Senator Clarke airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- June 30, 1985 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gallup, New Mexico · Senator Clarke · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American AA-1 · all AA-1s on the register
- Registration
- N5984L · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT FROM LOS ANGELES, CA TO TULSA, OK, THE PLT MADE AN EN ROUTE STOP AT GALLUP, NM. THE FUEL TANKS WERE FULLY SERVICED & THE PLT TOOK OFF WITH A PASSENGER & APRX 50 LBS OF TOOLS & BAGGAGE ON BOARD. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB MORE THAN 75 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. BOTH HE AND THE PASSENGER (HIS 10 YR OLD SON) REPORTED THE ENG SEEMED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE HIGH DENSITY ALT CAUSED A LACK OF CLIMB PERFORMANCE. HE FLEW THE ACFT BETWEEN RIDGE TOPS & LOWERED THE FLAPS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN ALT. HOWEVER, ABOUT 3 MI FROM THE APRT, THE ACFT DESCENDED & HIT THE GROUND. DURING IMPACT, THE PLT'S SEAT BELT FAILED. HE RECEIVED SEVERE FACIAL INJURIES & BROKEN RIBS. THE DENSITY ALT AT GALLUP WAS COMPUTED TO BE 9600 FT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 108 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,465 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 6,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from GUP, 3 miles away
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.