Amateur-built AA1B accident near Lacey, Washington, January 15, 1994
On January 15, 1994 at about 10:25 pm local time, a amateur-built AA1B, registered N1416R, was destroyed in an accident near Lacey, Washington (Gower Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE TAILWINDS AND WET TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 1994 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Lacey, Washington · Gower Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA1B
- Registration
- N1416R · registry record · serial 0516
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT IN COMMAND EXECUTED A LANDING TO RUNWAY 6, AT THE 1800 FOOT GRASS STRIP. WINDS AT WEATHER FACILITIES NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE REPORTED AS SOUTH TO SOUTHWESTERLY AT 9-13 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED TOUCHING DOWN 1/3 TO 1/2 DOWN THE RUNWAY AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A TELEPHONE POLE AT THE RUNWAY'S END. THE GRASS RUNWAY WAS REPORTED TO BE WET DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,864 hours in all; 139 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,723 as pilot in command; 1,495 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,643 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 1993; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OLM Olympia WA at 9:43 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 1,800 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from OLM, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.