On August 3, 1983, a Grumman AA1B (registration N8952L) was involved in an aviation accident near Alexandria, IN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of control during landing due to a stall, which resulted in the right wing striking the ground and the subsequent collapse of the nose gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The aircraft stalled while leveling off during landing, causing the right wing to strike the ground and the nose gear to collapse, resulting in a nosed-over accident.
What happened
The aircraft experienced a stall during the final phase of landing. According to the pilot's account, the approach was conducted normally until the moment of leveling off. At this point, the stall warning was activated, and control was subsequently lost as the right wing made contact with the ground.
A witness observed the aircraft level off at an altitude of approximately 20 feet above ground level. The witness reported that the aircraft stalled with the right wing dropping just as power was applied. Following this event, the aircraft veered to the right, departed the runway, and came to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
The sequence of events was confirmed by both pilot testimony and independent witness observation. The primary mechanical failure occurred when the nose gear collapsed upon impact with the ground after the initial stall and wing strike.
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control during landing due to a stall, which resulted in the right wing striking the ground and the subsequent collapse of the nose gear.