Grumman AA-1B accident near Prescott, Arizona, March 2, 1987
On March 2, 1987 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Grumman AA-1B, registered N1474R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona (Prescott airport). It was an instructional 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 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
- March 2, 1987 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Prescott · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1B
- Registration
- N1474R · no longer on the register · serial AA1B-0574
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED-DOWN ON THE NOSEWHEEL FIRST AND BOUNCED. THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT CLEAR A FOUR FT SNOWBANK ON THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE SNOWBANK IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 44 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,315 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PRC Prescott AZ at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 7,616 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from PRC
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.