Casualties unknown

2005-07-03: Grumman American AA-1B (N100XX) — Stell Blake Askew Iii — Durham, NC

Durham, NC, US

On July 3, 2005, a Grumman American AA-1B (registration N100XX) operated by Stell Blake Askew Iii was involved in an aviation accident near Durham, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Factors were soft and wet terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During a short field takeoff from a private grass runway, the airplane lifted off but failed to accelerate, settled back, and the pilot aborted. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane came to rest near the runway end. No mechanical issues were reported or found.

Takeoff and Initial Lift-Off

After completing a routine run-up, the pilot initiated a short field takeoff from a private grass runway. Approximately 1,300 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane lifted off the runway surface. However, it failed to accelerate to an airspeed that would support a positive rate of climb.

Settling and Abort

Following lift-off, the airplane settled back onto the runway and began to skip along the surface. About 1,000 feet from the end of the runway, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff and reduced the throttles to idle.

Veer and Wing Strike

As the airplane decelerated, approximately 300 feet from the end of runway 32, it veered to the left side of the runway. The left wing subsequently struck the ground. The airplane came to rest about 250 feet from the end of the runway.

Post-Accident Examination

The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane during the event. A post-accident examination also failed to disclose any mechanical issues. The investigation focused on the sequence of events as described.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20050802X01142. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.