# Accident 20200121004299A: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5B, Tallahassee, FL, January 21, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 21, 2020, 17:10 local time
- Place: Tallahassee, FL
- Airport: Tallahassee Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.2919° N, 84.2250° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2919&lon=-84.2250&mi=10
- Aircraft: N424WB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N424WB-2020-12-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman American Avn. AA-5B (registry code 3960105, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200121004299A

## Narrative

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

DURING CRUISE FROM ENTERPRISE, AL ENROUTE TO WAUCHULA, FL, AT APPROXIMATELY 10,500 FEET IN ALTITUDE, 20 MILES SSW OF TALLAHASSEE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IN TALLAHASSEE, FL (TLH) THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE WITH SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE. PILOT DECLARED AND INITIATED DESCENT AND APPROACH TO TLH AND REALIZED HE WOULD NOT REACH THE AIRPORT. AT THAT TIME THE PILOT BEGAN LOOKING FOR A SUITABLE LANDING AREA, FOUND WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A SAND PIT AND ATTEMPTED A LANDING. DURING THAT APPROACH, HE SLIPPED THE AIRCRAFT TO LOSE SPEED AND ALTITUDE AND OVERSHOT THE LANDING. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN A FORESTED AREA APPROXIMATELY 3.3 NAUTICAL MILES SSW OF THE THRESHOLD OF RUNWAY 36 AT TLH. INTERVIEW WITH FIRST RESPONDERS AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND ON SCENE INSPECTION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE BY THE FAA FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT AND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL ON THE FOLIAGE BENEATH THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA20LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA084), Jan 21, 2020: Grumman AA5 (N424WB), Tallahassee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel planning, resulting in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power in cruise flight.

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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