- Date
- May 3, 2009, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Cumberland, WI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5905LAmerican AA-1
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 13, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Minneapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090503009839A
- Case key
- 73783
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during takeoff in crosswind conditions.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the accident occurred during a crosswind takeoff from a turf runway. He noted that the airplane encountered an intersecting asphalt runway with a height difference that tended to "launch" the airplane. The pilot stated that he was unable to maintain control because of the crosswind. He attempted to continue the takeoff, ultimately continuing beyond the end of the runway, across a road and impacting a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The nose landing gear, right main landing gear and right flap were also damaged. The pilot reported a left 90-degree crosswind of about 10 knots at the time of the accident. He commented that additional flight instruction from an instructor familiar with the make and model airplane would have been helpful.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that the accident occurred during a crosswind takeoff from a turf runway. He noted that the airplane encountered an intersecting asphalt runway with a height difference that tended to "launch" the airplane. The pilot stated that he was unable to maintain control because of the crosswind. He attempted to continue the takeoff, ultimately continuing beyond the end of the runway, across a road and impacting a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The nose landing gear, right main landing gear and right flap were also damaged. The pilot reported a left 90-degree crosswind about 10 knots at the time of the accident. He commented that additional flight instruction from an instructor familiar with the make and model airplane would have been helpful.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5905L
- Reported as
- American AA-1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA1-0205
- Airframe hours
- 1,446
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235 SERIES, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 27, 2009
- Departed
- RZN · Siren, WI
- Destination
- SSQ · Shell Lake, WI
- Airport
- UBE · Cumberland Muni, runway 36, 2,000 × 120 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 3, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 130 total · 42 in this make and model · 110 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- RPD, 10 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.