American AA-1B accident near St Johns, Arizona, February 24, 2021
On February 24, 2021 at about 5:50 pm local time, a 1972 American AA-1B, registered N30JL, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near St Johns, Arizona (St Johns Industrial Air Park 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to operate with a demonstrated crosswind velocity above the airplane’s performance capabilities which resulted in a loss of airplane control and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 2021 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- St Johns, Arizona · St Johns Industrial Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American AA-1B, built 1972 · all AA-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N30JL · no longer on the register · serial AA1B-0062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, before his departure, he recorded the airport’s automated weather report as wind from 220° at 15 kts gusting to 21 kts. He then elected to perform the takeoff from runway 32 as runway 21 was too short for his performance needs. During takeoff he found it difficult to hold the runway centerline with full right rudder and even had to apply some right brake. The rudder control improved as his airspeed increased and the pilot was able to successfully transition the airplane into the initial climb. After the airplane lifted off the ground, the pilot was forced to place the airplane in a crab angle to counteract the wind. The pilot felt comfortable at this point and chose to continue with the departure; however, almost instantaneously the airplane descended and bounced and came to rest in dirt. The right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather report released about 30 minutes after the accident revealed that the airport was impacted by a peak wind from 250° at 26 kts that occurred at the time of the accident, which translated to a crosswind component of about 24 kts. The maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity for the airplane was 16 kts.
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
- Other weather encounter during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 489 hours in all; 430 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 16, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,164 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 2020; 180 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 510 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GYR Goodyear AZ at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14/3, 5,322 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 17 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 am from KSJN
Weather report (METAR): KSJN 241754Z AUTO 25017G24KT 10SM CLR 14/M10 A3008 RMK AO2 PK WND 25026/1723 SLP138 T01441100 10144 21017 58005
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR21LA118.