# NTSB ATL88LA065: Grumman American AA-5, N7151L, Elizabethtown, KY, December 16, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 16, 1987, 08:25 local (13:25 UTC)
- Place: Elizabethtown, KY
- Coordinates: 37.700897, -85.870681 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7009&lon=-85.8707&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7692
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7692/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA065

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, standing - starting engine(s)
  - electrical system,battery - output low (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - starting procedure - initiated
  - proper assistance - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, unqualified person
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER A SHORT STOP BTN FLTS, THE BATTERY WAS TOO WEAK TO CRANK THE ENG. THE PLT ELECTED TO HAND-PROP THE ENG WHILE HIS NON-RATED PAX HELD THE BRAKES. HE BRIEFED THE PAX ON THE PROPER PROCEDURE. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED THE PAX TO OPERATE THE BRAKES WHILE TAXIING, & BELIEVED THAT WITH THE BRIEFING, THE PAX WOULD BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE BRAKES DRG THE HAND PROPPING OPN. THE ACFT WAS NOT CHOCKED OR TIED DOWN. THE ENG STARTED IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE PLT PULLED THE PROP THRU. THE PAX RETARDED THE THROTTLE AFTER THE ENG STARTED; HOWEVER, BEFORE THE PLT GOT TO THE COCKPIT, A 'GREAT GUST OF WIND' FROM BEHIND THE ACFT PUSHED IT FWD & IT BEGAN TO ROLL ACROSS THE RAMP. THE PAX WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACFT OR STEER IT AWAY FROM OTHER ACFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH A PARKED LEARJET & BOTH ACFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DMGD. THE BRAKING SYS OF N7151L WAS EXAMINED & RPRTD TO BE FUNCTIONAL. FBO PSNL RPRTD THAT A POWER CART WAS AVAILABLE FOR A 'JUMP' START, AS WELL AS WHEEL CHOCKS. N7151L HAD A CASTERING NOSEWHEEL & WAS STEERED BY USING THE BRAKES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7151L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7151L-1989-03-21), registration cancelled 1989-03-21, S/N AA50451 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5) (registry code 3960104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5-0451
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: B.S. Lawson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Destination: DAYTON, OH
- Airport: I98, Elizabethtown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 350 total, 322 in this make and model, 296 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: I98

## 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 19871216072419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871216072419A), Dec 16, 1987: Gulstm AA5, Elizabethtown, KY, Substantial damage. Hand propped aircraft. Engine started. Wind buffeted aircraft. Passenger unable to hold it,ran into parked aircraft

## Other investigations on N7151L (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 CHI76FEI15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76FEI15), Nov 16, 1975: Grum Amer AA-5 (N7151L), Wadsworth, OH, substantial damage

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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