# Accident 20150809012199A: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A, Harrisburg, IL, August 9, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 9, 2015, 20:50 local time
- Place: Harrisburg, IL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.5656° N, 88.6433° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5656&lon=-88.6433&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9684U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9684U-2018-04-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman American Avn. AA-5A (registry code 3960106, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15FA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA347) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150809012199A

## Narrative

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

THE STUDENT PILOT, WITH NO EVIDENCE OF SOLO ENDORSEMENT, WAS ON A MOONLESS NIGHT FLIGHT, OVER A NATIONAL FOREST PRESERVE, WITH HIS NON-CERTIFICATED FATHER WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED TREES AND CRASHED.

## 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 CEN15FA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA347), Aug 10, 2015: Grumman American Avn. AA 5A (N9684U), Harrisburg, IL, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper decision to conduct a flight in dark, night conditions and his subsequent controlled flight into terrain.

## Other reports on N9684U (1)

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

- [Incident 19950525022639I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950525022639I), May 25, 1995: Gulstm AA5A (N9684U), Raleigh-Durham, NC, Minor damage. Noticed nose settle on rollout and prop struck runway. Nose gear was bent and turned sidways.

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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