# Accident 19980712016429A: Amrgen AA5B, Chico Hot Spgs, MT, July 12, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 12, 1998, 11:30 local time
- Place: Chico Hot Spgs, MT
- Airport: Chico Hot Spgs
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.3108° N, 110.7609° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3108&lon=-110.7609&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: AMRGEN AA5B
- Reported engine: LYC O360A4K
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 319 total, 126 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA132) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980712016429A

## Narrative

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

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 HOTEL OPERATIONS MANAGER THAT TAKEOFFS TO THE SOUTH WERE 'NOT NORMALLY ALLOWED,' BUT THE PILOT ELECTED TO DEPART TO THE SOUTH DUE TO WIND CONDITIONS. THE MANAGER THEN INSURED THAT THE ROADWAY SERVING AS RUNWAY 14/32 WAS PROPERLY BLOCKED OFF AND MANNED. DURING THE LEFT TURNING CROSSWIND CLIMBOUT, THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING STRUCK A FENCE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN IMPACTED TERRAIN AND CAME TO REST. TERRAIN TO THE SOUTH AND EAST WAS UPSLOPING AND HIGHER THAN THE TAKEOFF RUNWAY ELEVATION. THE HIGH ELEVATION OF THE AIRSTRIP (5,280 FEET) COUPLED WITH THE WARM AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE, CREATED A HIGH (7,784 FOOT) DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION.(-23)PILOT ELECTED TAKE OFF UPHILL TOWARD HIGHER TERRAIN AT A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 7500 FT.  CRASHED AIRCRAFT.  OPERATION WAS CONDUCTED ON AN ASPHALT ROAD NOT DESIGNATED AS AN AIRPORT.

## 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 SEA98LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA132), Jul 12, 1998: Grumman American AA-5B (N28299), Chico Hot Sprgs, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's selection of the wrong runway for takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident were high density altitude, rising terrain and a fence post.

## Other reports on N28299 (2)

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

- [Accident 19970709017389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970709017389A), Jul 9, 1997: Gulstm AA5B (N28299), Susanville, CA, Substantial damage. 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…
- [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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