# NTSB ATL83LA359: Grumman AA-5B, N28706, Fairmont, WV, September 8, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 8, 1983, 12:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place: Fairmont, WV
- Coordinates: 39.448052, -80.167065 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4481&lon=-80.1671&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6197
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83LA359
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6197/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA359

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - performed, pilot in command
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - downhill (contributing factor)
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not possible, pilot in command
  - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING ARRIVAL, HE FLEW OVER THE FIELD, CHECKED THE WIND INDICATOR, THEN ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 4. WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, HE NOTICED TALL TREES AT THE APCH END OF THE RWY & THAT THE RWY DROPPED OFF AT THE OTHER END. HE MADE HIS APCH OVER THE TREES, THEN TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE DOWNWARD SLOPING RWY. THE ACFT BOUNCED & HE ADDED POWER TO RECOVER. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT FEEL THERE WAS SUFFICIENT RWY REMAINING TO CLEAR TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OR TO STOP PRIOR TO RUNNING OFF THE END WHERE THE TERRAIN DROPPED OFF. THEREFORE, THE PLT ELECTED TO GO OFF THE RWY & GROUND LOOP THE THE ACFT. WHEN HE DID THIS, THE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT SKIDDED ABOUT 100 FT BEFORE COMING TO REST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N28706 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-5B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA580767
- Airframe hours: 1878
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Falcon Aero Club
- Registered owner: Ronald A. Ripley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1983, 4 hours before
- Departed: MGW, MORGANTOWN, WV
- Airport: 4G7, Fairmont Municipal, runway 4, 2,810 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 40 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CKB, 16 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 19830908047019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830908047019A), Sep 8, 1983: Gulstm AA5B, Fairmont, WV, Substantial damage. Made hard landing half way point of the runway. Unable to stop or go around. Elected to ground loop to stop.

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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