Amateur-built AA-1 accident near Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1983
On June 9, 1983 at about 10:45 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-1, registered N5962L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 9, 1983 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-1
- Registration
- N5962L · no longer on the register · serial 0262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING TAKEOFF AND WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT SLID OVER LOGS IN THE ROLL-OUT AREA. THE PILOT HAD 3 HOURS IN THE MAKE AND MODEL OF ACFT. TAKEOFF WAS FROM A PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP WHICH WAS ROUGH AND UPHILL IN THE DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF. WHEN A CRASH WAS IMMINENT THE PILOT TURNED TO AVOID A TREE STUMP AND CRASH LANDED. ALL LANDING GEAR WERE DESTROYED ALONG WITH THE WINGS AS THE ACFT SLID OVER LOGS. THE FUSELAGE WAS TWISTED AND ONE PROP BLADE WAS SLIGHTLY BENT. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,590 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 5,252 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,785 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 1982; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,465 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Mechanicsburg PA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: Carlisle PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.