# NTSB ATL92LA016: Gulfstream American AA5A, N74279, Burnsville, NC, October 27, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 27, 1991, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Burnsville, NC
- Coordinates: 35.910175, -82.290199 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9102&lon=-82.2902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92LA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8542/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA016

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND THE SELECTION OF TAKEOFF RUNWAY WITH AN UPSLOPE FOR TAKEOFF.  FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - rising
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - runway
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED DOWN A HILLSIDE AFTER THE PILOT REJECTED A TAKEOFF FROM A RUNWAY WHICH ROSE 40 FEET FROM THE INITIAL TAKEOFF ROLL.  THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF ABOUT 900 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. REPORTEDLY, THE WINDS WERE CALM AND THE DOWNSLOPE RUNWAY WAS RECOMMENDED FOR NORMAL TAKEOFFS FROM THE MOUNTAINOUS AIRPORT.  THE PILOT WAS NOT EXPERIENCED WITH OPERATIONS AT HIGHER THAN SEA LEVEL.  THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED AT 5,250 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74279](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74279-1997-03-07), registration cancelled 1997-03-07, S/N AA5B0185 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM AMERICAN AA5A
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5A-0185
- Airframe hours: 1400
- Engines: LYCOMING O-310-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mccandless, Jeffrey D
- Registered owner: Mccandless, Jeffrey D
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1991, 120 hours before
- Departed: BURNSVILLE, NC
- Destination: 49J, HILTON HEAD ISL, SC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: NONE, Mt. Air Airport, runway 32, 3,000 × 50 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: 130 total, 100 in this make and model, 130 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AVL, 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 19911027048069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911027048069A), Oct 27, 1991: Gulstm AA5A, Burnesville, NC, Substantial damage. Alarmed long uphill takeoff run. Aborted. Dropped 30 feet inverted off end runway. Rwy 14 used due to downslope.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.