Grumman AA-1 accident near Gordonville, Texas, July 4, 2004
On July 4, 2004 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Grumman AA-1, registered N6241L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gordonville, Texas (Cedar Mills Airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's premature lift-off and his failure to abort the takeoff. Contributing factors were the soft and muddy runway conditions and the unfavorable winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2004 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gordonville, Texas · Cedar Mills Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1
- Registration
- N6241L · no longer on the register · serial AA1-0441
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 4,333-hour pilot stated that there was an "almost direct crosswind," as the airplane attempted to takeoff from a 3,000 feet long turf runway. The runway was reported to be "soft" and the pilot expected a longer than normal takeoff roll and elected to use the "soft field" takeoff procedure. The pilot further stated that acceleration was "a bit slower than he was used to, but seemed OK." Approximately halfway down the runway, "the airplane became airborne, with a short squawk from the stall warning system." The pilot "let off some back pressure, and the airplane touched down for a few feet before getting airborne again." As the airplane passed a large tree on the departure end of the runway, the pilot reported that a "gust of wind" caught the right win, and the nose dipped down. Subsequently, the left wing impacted water before the airplane came to rest in an inverted position in a lake.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,333 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 2,571 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 24, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,995 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2003; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3T0 Cedar Mills TX at 2:30 pm
- Destination: T67 Saginaw TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from GYI, 10 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.