# Accident 20200105003249A: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A, Rutherfordton, NC, January 5, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 5, 2020, 16:47 local time
- Place: Rutherfordton, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3872° N, 82.1092° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3872&lon=-82.1092&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9593U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9593U-2023-04-01) (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: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 4
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,445 total, 678 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20CA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA065) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200105003249A

## Narrative

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

ON JANUARY 5, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 1900Z, A GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5A SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT, N9593U DEPARTED ON A VFR FLIGHT FROM THE HENDERSONVILLE, NC (0A7) AIRPORT.  THE PERSONAL SIGHT SEEING FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 OPERATING RULES WITH THREE PASSENGERS ON BOARD.

NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE ESTIMATED 45 MINUTE FLIGHT.

THE PILOT DEPARTED TO THE EAST TO FLY OVER SOME SCENIC SIGHTS AND THEN DEMONSTRATE SOME BASIC AIRCRAFT MANEUVERS.  THE PILOT CLIMBED TO 4200' MSL TO DEMONSTRATE A STALL.  THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONFIGURED WITH FLAPS UP, POWER OFF AND A 15 DEGREE NOSE UP ANGLE OF ATTACK (AOA).  WHEN THE STALL OCCURRED THE AIRCRAFTS RIGHT WING DROPPED RAPIDLY AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SPIN.  THE PILOT STATED HE TRIED TO APPLY OPPOSITE RUDDER DROP THE AIRCRAFTS NOSE AND ADDING POWER BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FLAT SPIN THEY ENTERED INTO.

THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CONTROL AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN RUTHERFORDTON, NC. THE PILOT AND 2 PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHILE 1 PASSENGER SUFFERED SERIOUS BUT NOT LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.

INVESTIGATION FOUND THE AIRMAN WAS CURRENT AND QUALIFIED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN AN AIRWORTHY CONDITION.  OTHER THAN THE LOSS OF CONTROL, NO OTHER MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE REPORTED.

## 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 ERA20CA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA065), Jan 5, 2020: American AA5 (N9593U), Rutherfordton, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an intentional aerodynamic stall, which resulted in a spin and subsequent collision with terrain.

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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