Grumman AA-1B accident near Hampton, Oregon, April 13, 1985
On April 13, 1985 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Grumman AA-1B, registered N9861L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hampton, Oregon (Hampton airport). It was a personal 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
- April 13, 1985 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hampton, Oregon · Hampton · 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
- N9861L · no longer on the register · serial AA1B-0461
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO BEING LOST AND LOW ON FUEL. THE AIRSTRIPS SURFACE WAS 1000 FT OF DIRT AND SAND WITH A FENCE AT THE DEPARTURE END. TAKEOFF DATA BASED ON GROSS WEIGHT, ZERO WIND, 4000 FT ELEVATION AT 80 DEGREES, ON A HARD SURFACES RWY WOULD REQUIRE AT LEAST 1129 FT FOR TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS LIFTED OFF PREMATURELY AND A DEPARTURE STALL OCCURED WITH THE ACFT STRIKING THE FENCE AND THEN ROLLING A SHORT DISRENCE INTO SAGEBRUSH BEFORE COMING TO A REST.
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: 32 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,966 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 1985; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-52C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CVO Corvallis OR at 6:00 pm
- Destination: RDM Redmond OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 1,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N9861L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.