Amateur-built AA-1B accident near Hamburg, New York, September 25, 1985
On September 25, 1985 at about 11:20 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-1B, registered N2640R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamburg, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- September 25, 1985 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Hamburg, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-1B
- Registration
- N2640R · no longer on the register · serial 0540
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE STARTED A MANEUVER AT 2700 FT. THE MANEUVER WAS A DIVE AFTER REDUCING PWR FOLLOWED BY A CLIMB WITH A LEFT TURN AT THE TOP FOLLOWED BY A DESCENDING LEFT TURN. THE TURN 'AT THE TOP' WAS UNCOORDINATED AND G FORCES OCCURRED. THROTTLE ADVANCEMENT AFTER THE MANEUVER PRODUCED NO ENG RESPONSE. A FIELD WAS SELECTED FOR A FORCED LNDG WHILE APPLYING CARBURETOR HEAT,AUX FUEL PUMP,RICH MIXTURE AND SWITCHING FUEL TANKS. THE PLT SAID 7 GALS OF FUEL REMAINED ABOARD. PWR IMPROVED AS THE ACFT NEARED THE GROUND. THE PLT ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE LNDG EVEN THOUGH THE FIELD WAS HEAVILY FURROWED. THE ACFT NOSED OVER AFTER LANDING. POST ACC INVEST REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE TO CARBURETOR/INDUCTION ICING.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 458 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 398 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,670 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 1984; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 34D Orchard Park NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.