# Accident 20151217019509A: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A, Friendswood, TX, December 17, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 17, 2015, 08:00 local time
- Place: Friendswood, TX
- Airport: Polly Ranch
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.5047° N, 95.1753° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5047&lon=-95.1753&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9860U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9860U-2019-05-06) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 18 total, 10 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA083) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151217019509A

## Narrative

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

STUDENT PILOT COMPLETING SOLO TAKE-OFF AND LANDINGS STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE FLARED TOO HIGH AND THEN BOUNCED THE AIRCRAFT NEAR OR ON THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD AND THEN BOUNCED IT AGAIN FURTHER DOWN THE RUNWAY CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO BECOME MISALIGNED TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE OF RUNWAY 29.  THE AIRPLANE THEN DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS.  THE STUDENT THEN PROCEEDED WITH A GO-AROUND PROCEDURE, ADVANCING THE THROTTLE TO THE FULL POSITION.  THE STUDENT DID NOT MAKE THE APPROPRIATE CONTROL AND RUDDER INPUTS TO BRING THE AIRPLANE BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY SURFACE AREA AND CONTINUED FURTHER LEFT OF THE RUNWAY GAINING SOME ALTITUDE STRIKING TREE ONE WITH OUTER PORTION OF THE LEFT WING AND THEN STRIKING THE TOP PORTION OF TREE TWO COMING TO REST BENEATH IT.  THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT REMEMBER UNBUCKLING HIS SEAT BELT.  THE PILOT BEGAN EXITING THE AIRPLANE AND THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY HE CAME TO REST ON ASKED IF HE SHUT THE FUEL OFF.  THE STUDENT PILOT THEN PUT THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE OFF POSITION AND TURNED THE MASTER/BATTERY SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION AND THEN EXITED THE AIRPLANE.   THE STUDENTS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CALLED THE FSDO AND REPORTED THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 GAA16CA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA083), Dec 17, 2015: Grumman American Avn. AA-5A (N9860U), Friendswood, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's loss of directional control during an aborted landing, which resulted in a collision with a tree and impact with the ground.

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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