# Accident 19970709017389A: Gulstm AA5B, Susanville, CA, July 9, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 9, 1997, 12:40 local time
- Place: Susanville, CA
- Airport: Spaulding Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5707° N, 120.6110° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5707&lon=-120.6110&mi=10
- Aircraft: N28299, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28299-2001-04-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman American Avn. AA-5B (registry code 3960105, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULSTM AA5B
- Reported engine: LYC O360A4K
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 305 total, 41 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA236) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970709017389A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT FLEW OVER THE AIRPORT TO CHECKED THE WIND, WHICH HE SAID FAVORED RUNWAY 16. HE NOTED THERE WAS A LITTLE RIPPLE ON A LAKE ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. BUT NO WAVES OF WHITE CAPS. HE DETERMINED THAT THE WIND WAS PROBABLY 170 TO 180 DEGREES AT 6 TO 7 KNOTS, WITH THE WINDSOCK ABOUT 1/2 WAY OUT. THE LANDING APPROACH WAS NORMAL. DURING THE LANDING FLARE, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE RIGHT WING TO RISE UNEXPECTEDLY TO APPROXIMATELY A 45 DEGREE ANGLE, ALMOST FORCING THE LEFT WING ON TO THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND; HOWEVER, THE WIND WAS BLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS 'BEHIND THE CURVE.' THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE AIRCRAFT ULTIMATELY CRASHED THROUGH A BARBED WIRE PERIMETER FENCE BEFORE COMING TO REST IN A LAKE. RESCUE PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT NEAR THE TIME THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS WERE KICKING FROM THE WEST WITH SHORT GUSTS OF APPROCIMATELY 20 TO 30 MPH. ALSO THE NOTED THAT IN THE GENERAL AREA OF THE ACCIDENT, GUSTS COME OUT OF NOWHERE ON A MOMENTS NOTICE, DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 8000 FEET MSL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA236), Jul 9, 1997: Grumman American AA-5B (N28299), Susanville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadvertent encounter with unfavorable weather conditions during the landing, and his failure to maintain runway alignment. The sudden onset of crosswind gusts beyond the capability of…

## Other reports on N28299 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19980712016429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980712016429A), Jul 12, 1998: Amrgen AA5B (N28299), Chico Hot Spgs, MT, Substantial damage. Took off on county road toward higher terrain. Collided with terrain. Density altitude 7500FT. Possible over gross. (.4)the pilot-in-command was briefed by the…
- [Incident 19961101044139I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961101044139I), Nov 1, 1996: Gulstm AA5B (N28299), Palo Alto, CA, Minor damage. Engine start incident involving property damage not explained.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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