American Aviation Corp. (Aac) Grumman AA 1B accident near State College, Pennsylvania, April 6, 2008
On April 6, 2008 at about 8:00 pm local time, a American Aviation Corp. (Aac) Grumman AA 1B, registered N15FA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near State College, Pennsylvania (University Park airport). It was a personal 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
A partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 2008 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- State College, Pennsylvania · University Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Aviation Corp. (Aac) Grumman AA 1B
- Registration
- N15FA · registry record · serial AA1B-0014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated, that he and his student were on a training flight. The CFI conducted a preflight inspection, and no anomalies were noted. After the preflight, he taxied to runway 24, added full power, and the engine was developing 2,400 rpm. He recalled that he rotated the airplane at 65 knots, and that during climb out, at about 300 feet, the power dropped to 2,100 rpm. He acknowledged that he knew he had a problem so he completed the emergency checklist, and made a precautionary off field landing. During the precautionary landing the airplane struck a ditch and nosed over. Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that valve train continuity was established. Further examination revealed that there were no mechanical anomalies noted with the engine, and the decrease in engine power could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Not specified
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command; 700 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,363 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2008; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UNV State College PA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: UNV State College PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 6,701 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:20 pm from UNV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.