# Accident 20210705012639A: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5B, Wells, NV, July 5, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 5, 2021, 09:00 local time
- Place: Wells, NV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.1171° N, 114.9221° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1171&lon=-114.9221&mi=10
- Aircraft: N28643, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28643-2022-08-27) (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: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 886 total, 492 in this make and model, 49 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA260) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210705012639A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT HAD PLANNED TO TAXI BACK TO THE ARRIVAL END OF THE DUTY RUNWAY, BUT HIS PASSENGER EXPRESSED DISPLEASURE AT THE THOUGHT OF TAXIING IN A LATCHED, GREENHOUSE-LIKE CANOPY.  THE PILOT STATED HE CHECKED THE WINDSOCK AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE DUTY RUNWAY, WHICH SHOWED A TAILWIND.  THE PILOT ELECTED TO TAKEOFF OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE DUTY RUNWAY INSTEAD OF TAXIING TO THE OTHER END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED AND ROTATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AIRPLANE'S FLYING MANUAL, BUT LOSS LIFT AND GROUND EFFECT AS IT CLIMBED. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE HIS CLIMB AND DEVELOPED AN UNRECOVERABLE DESCENT. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND ON THE APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET TO LEFT SIDE OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE NON-DUTY RUNWAY THRESHOLD WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME, AND NO POST CRASH FIRE OR EXPLOSION.

## 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 WPR21LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA260), Jul 5, 2021: Grumman American Avn. AA-5B (N28643), Wells, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to takeoff with a tailwind, which resulted in an impact 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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