# NTSB ATL84LA165: Grumman AA-5B, N28239, Smithfield, NC, May 8, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1984, 20:15 local (May 8, 1984, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Smithfield, NC
- Coordinates: 35.499076, -78.339996 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4991&lon=-78.3400&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): 6453
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84LA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6453/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84LA165

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD ONLY 1 HR OF NIGHT EXPERIENCE & WAS PRACTICING NIGHT LANDINGS TO MAINTAIN CURRENCY. DURING A LANDING, THE ACFT BOUNCED & THE PLT ADDED POWER TO RECOVER. AS POWER WAS APPLIED, THE ACFT WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY & SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH A TREE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N28239 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-5B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B0957
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Johnson Aviation Smithfield
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: W27, Johnson County, runway 21, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 61 total, 7 in this make and model, 29 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDU, 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 19840507017379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840507017379A), May 7, 1984: Gulstm AA5B, Smithfield, NC, Substantial damage. Bounced night landing then drifted off runway and landed on rough ground parallel to the runway.

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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