American Aviation AA 1A accident near Maricopa, Arizona, October 21, 2017
On October 21, 2017 at about 6:13 pm local time, a American Aviation AA 1A, registered N9239L, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Maricopa, Arizona (Millar Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to see and avoid unmarked power lines during the approach to land.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2017 · about 6:13 pm local time
- Place
- Maricopa, Arizona · Millar Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Aviation AA 1A · all AA 1As on the register
- Registration
- N9239L · no longer on the register · serial AA1A-0139
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a local personal flight. His son reported that his father was returning to the departure airport when the accident occurred. One witness reported that the airplane “seemed slow and too low” during the approach to land and that it struck power lines near the approach end of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane descended rapidly and impacted the runway. Several other witnesses reported that the airplane impacted unmarked power lines that were above a power line marked with orange guide balls. The pilot did not recall the accident sequence. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Given the witness statements, it is likely that, during the approach to land, the pilot allowed the airplane to drop below the glideslope, and he failed to see and avoid the unmarked power lines that were above the marked power line.
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
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach defining event
- Loss of control in flight during approach
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,561 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2AZ4 Maricopa AZ at 6:10 pm
- Destination: 2AZ4 Maricopa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from CHD, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on January 8, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Email - FAA Regarding Postaccident Exam | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | On Scene Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.