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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 2021 · about 5:50 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- St Johns, Arizona · St Johns Industrial Air Park · cases near this airport · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 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 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | E-mail Correspondence, Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpt from Pilot's Operating Handbook | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N30JL: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- American AA-1 179 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- American 307 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C 29 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- St. Johns Industrial Air Park Airport · nearest airport
- Phoenix Goodyear Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,431 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR21LA118.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.