# Accident 19990911026859A: Amrgen AA5A, Carthage, MS, September 11, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 11, 1999, 16:22 local time
- Place: Carthage, MS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7401° N, 89.5304° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7401&lon=-89.5304&mi=10
- Aircraft: N26801, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26801-2000-05-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Gulfstream American AA-5A (registry code 3970104, https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-aa-5a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMRGEN AA5A
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2G
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 961 total, 871 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL99FA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99FA127) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990911026859A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1999, AT 1622 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A GULFSTREAM AMERICAN CORPORATION AA-5A, N26801, COLLIDED WITH TREES WHILE PHOTOGRAPHING A PARCEL OF LAND, IN CARTHAGE, MS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT.  THE FIRST PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, THE SECOND PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES, THE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE FLIGHT HAD ORIGINATED FROM THE JACKSON MISSISSIPPI AIRPORT AT 1335.  ACCORDING TO THE FIRST PILOT, HE HAD FLOWN FROM JACKSON TO THE PARCEL OF LAND THAT HE WANTED TO PHOTOGRAPH.  HE SAID HE RELINQUISHED THE AIRPLANE CONTROLS TO THE SECOND PILOT SO THAT HE COULD TAKE THE PHOTOGRAPHS.  WHILE PHOTOGRAPHING THE LAND, HE LOOKED UP INTO THE COCKPIT AND SAW THE AIRSPEED WAS AROUND 65 KNOTS.  HE TAPPED THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR TO INDICATE TO THE SECOND PILOT THAT THEY NEEDED TO INCREASE THEIR AIRSPEED.  THE FIRST PILOT STATED THAT HE CONTINUED TO TAKE PICTURES AND WHEN HE LOOKED UP AGAIN THE AIRPLANE WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR SOME TREES . THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AT THE BASE OF THE TREES INVERTED. (.4) THE OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE, A PILOT-RATED PASSENGER, AND A SECOND PASSENGER FLEW UP TO THE OWNER'S FARM TO PHOTOGRAPH TIMBERLAND THAT HAD RECENTLY BURNED IN A FIRE.  THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE FLIGHT, THE OWNER WAS THE PILOT  AND TEMPORARILY GAVE THE FLIGHT CONTROLS TO THE RIGHT SEAT PASSENGER.  AFTER TAKING SEVERAL PICTURES WITH THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER AT THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, HE LOOKED UP AND NOTICED THAT SEVERAL TREES WERE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT PATH. HE RESUMED FULL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, APPLIED FULL POWER, AND PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROL YOKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN ALTITUDE.  UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TOPS OF THE TREES, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED SEVERAL PINE TREES AND CAME TO REST ALONG THE BASE OF THE PINE TREES IN AN INVERTED POSITION.

## 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 ATL99FA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99FA127), Sep 11, 1999: Gulfstream American AA-5A (N26801), Carthage, MS, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain altitude clearance while maneuvering. A factor was the pine trees.

## Other reports on N26801 (1)

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

- [Incident 19800920069329I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800920069329I), Sep 20, 1980: Gulstm AA5A (N26801), Jackson, MS, Minor damage. Forced landing after engine lost power. Air filter dislodged, jamming carburetor.

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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