American Aviation Corp. (Aac) AA-1A accident near Kralltown, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1987
On June 28, 1987 at about 9:30 pm local time, a American Aviation Corp. (Aac) AA-1A, registered N9399L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kralltown, Pennsylvania (Bermudian Valley 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
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 28, 1987 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kralltown, Pennsylvania · Bermudian Valley
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Aviation Corp. (Aac) AA-1A
- Registration
- N9399L · no longer on the register · serial AA-1A-0099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A 2130 FT GRASS STRIP ON A RELATIVELY HOT & HUMID DAY WITH AN AIR TEMP OF 85 DEG. ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY, HE ROTATED THE ACFT TO TAKEOFF, BUT IT WOULD NOT CLIMB SUFFICIENTLY TO CLEAR A HILL BEYOND THE ARPT BOUNDRY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN, RAN INTO THE TREES & WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. ABOUT 1-1/2 HRS LATER, THE OPERATOR CAME TO THE ACFT. WHILE DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, SPARKS IGNITED LEAKING FUEL & THE ACFT WAS FURTHER DAMAGED BY FIRE.
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
- Flight time: 223 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 185 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,985 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1986; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,465 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 07N at 9:30 pm
- Destination: N71 Marietta PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,130 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:30 pm
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.