# Accident 20240904021729A: Grumman AA-5, Rockmart, GA, September 4, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 4, 2024, 14:17 local time
- Place: Rockmart, GA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9300° N, 85.0414° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9300&lon=-85.0414&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9659L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9659L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman American Avn. AA-5 (registry code 3960104, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-5
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-320
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 455 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24FA365](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA365) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240904021729A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2024, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED KPUJ WITH A PILOT AND STUDENT. AFTER FLYING A SERIES OF TURNS WITH PARALLEL PATHS, THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED AND DESCENDED, CRASHING IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET FROM CROSSING CRAWFORD ROAD IN ROCKMART, GEORGIA, ON A NORTH-WEST HEADING TOWARD AN OPEN FIELD. THE OCCUPANTS DID NOT SURVIVE THE CRASH. THE FAA IIC WAS PRESENT AT THE CRASH SITE WITH FIRST RESPONDERS AND NTSB.

ANALYSIS:

THERE WAS NO AIRCRAFT FIRE DAMAGE. NO NOTICIBLE FUEL SMELL WAS PRESENT UPON ARRIVAL ON SCENE. FURTHER ANALYSIS OF AIRCRAFT LOGBOOKS, LOCAL WEATHER REPORT AND DEPARTURE AIRPORT, REVEALED NO EVIDENCE INDICATING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS WERE NOT AIRWORTHY OR OPERATIONAL AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE AIRCRAFT ORIENTATION AND DAMAGE AT THE CRASH SITE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A STALL ABOVE THE TREE TOPS AND THE ENGINE NOT TURNING/RUNNING.

THIS INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE PENDING ANY ADDITIONAL FINDINGS BY THE NTSB TO BE REPORTED LATER.

..

## 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 ERA24FA365](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA365), Sep 4, 2024: Grumman American Avn. AA-5 (N9659L), Rockmart, GA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Also causal was the flight instructor’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the forced landing attempt, which resulted in exceedance of…

## Other reports on N9659L (1)

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

- [Incident 19790916023309I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790916023309I), Sep 16, 1979: Gulstm AA1 (N9659L), Harvest, AL, Minor damage. Pilot touched down midfield and overran the runway into a soy bean field.

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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