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SEA02LA079

2002-05-11 · South Prairie, Washington, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 02WA

Current FAA registration · N321D

Make / Model
GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-1B
Year of manufacture
1974 · 28 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19970930
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A37252

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's improper touchdown point. Factors include a wet landing surface.

Factual narrative

On May 11, 2002, about 1100 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman American AA-1B airplane, N321D, sustained substantial damage during the landing rollout at a private airstrip (02WA) near South Prairie, Washington. The airplane is registered to the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The sole occupant of the airplane, a non-certificated pilot, was not injured. There was no fire and no report of ELT activation. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that after touchdown he "...locked up the right wheel brake..." in an effort to avoid a fence and vehicles that were located at the end of the runway. Shortly thereafter, the airplane slid to the right and collided with the fence. The pilot stated that at the time of the accident the landing surface was wet. A witness to the accident reported that the airplane "...appeared to be landing long..." and touched down approximately two-thirds of the way down the 2,650-foot turf runway. After touchdown, during the landing rollout, the airplane collided with a fence that crossed (perpendicular) the departure end of the runway. The non-certificated pilot reported that after touchdown, he "...locked up the right wheel brake..." in an effort to avoid a fence and vehicles located at the end of the runway. Shortly thereafter, the airplane slid to the right and collided with the fence. A witness to the accident reported that the airplane touched down approximately two-thirds of the way along the 2,650-foot turf runway. After touchdown, during the landing rollout, the airplane collided with the fence that crossed (perpendicular) the departure end of the runway. The pilot stated that at the time of the accident the landing surface was wet. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2002_SEA02LA079.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.