# NTSB ATL82DA203: American AA-1, N5715L, Covington, TN, July 17, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 17, 1982, 16:25 local (20:25 UTC)
- Place: Covington, TN
- Location: 35.5834° N, 89.5872° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at COVINGTON MUNI (M04), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5834&lon=-89.5872&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 17, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70364
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82DA203
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70364/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA203

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, unknown
  - hydraulic system,fitting - leak (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,normal brake system - failure,partial (cause)
- Overrun, landing - roll
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lowering of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

PRIOR TO LANDING, THE PILOT CHECKED HIS BRAKES TO INSURE THEIR INTEGRITY AND NOTED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE DID NOT HOLD PRESSURE. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 01 SINCE THE HANGAR AND RAMP AREAS WERE LOCATED AT THE NORTH END OF THE FIELD AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO TAXI A LONG WAY WITH AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS HIGH AND FAST ON FINAL APPROACH AND TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE 4000 FT RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, HIT A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 210 DEG AT 7 KTS. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE FLAPS WERE UP. A HYDRAULIC LEAK WAS FOUND AT THE 45 DEGREE FITTING AT THE BRAKE HOUSING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5715L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5715L-2013-02-01), registration cancelled 2013-02-01, S/N AA1-0115, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN AA-1
- Registry model: [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (registry code 0630610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0115
- Airframe hours: 1467
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Frank E. Griffin
- Departed: M04, COVINGTON, TN
- Destination: M04, COVINGTON, TN
- Airport: M04, Covington Muni, runway 1, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 70 total, 17 in this make and model, 39 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 201 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MEM, 30 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820717044299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820717044299A), Jul 17, 1982: Gulstm AA1, Covington, TN, Substantial damage. Aware of a weak brake. Then landed long and fast downwind, ran off end of runway and overturned in a ditch.

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.

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