Accident Grumman American AA-1 N5962L, Thursday 9 June 1983

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Date:	Thursday 9 June 1983
Time:	18:45 LT
Type:	Grumman American AA-1
Owner/operator:	Vans Richards
Registration:	N5962L
MSN:	0262
Total airframe hrs:	1785 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming O-235C2C
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Mechanicsburg, PA - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Mechanicsburg, PA
Destination airport:	Carlisle, PA
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING TAKEOFF AND WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT SLID OVER LOGS IN THE ROLL-OUT AREA. THE PILOT HAD 3 HOURS IN THE MAKE AND MODEL OF ACFT. TAKEOFF WAS FROM A PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP WHICH WAS ROUGH AND UPHILL IN THE DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF. WHEN A CRASH WAS IMMINENT THE PILOT TURNED TO AVOID A TREE STUMP AND CRASH LANDED. ALL LANDING GEAR WERE DESTROYED ALONG WITH THE WINGS AS THE ACFT SLID OVER LOGS. THE FUSELAGE WAS TWISTED AND ONE PROP BLADE WAS SLIGHTLY BENT. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: