# NTSB CEN10CA154: Grumman American AA-5, N5418L, Maple Lake, MN, February 27, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 27, 2010, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Maple Lake, MN - Coordinates: 45.23611, -93.985557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2361&lon=-93.9856&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75484/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75484 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA154 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path during a simulated forced landing and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action to execute a go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot attempted a simulated forced landing at the airport by entering the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 28 during an instructional flight. During final approach, the pilot realized that the airplane was not going to reach the runway and attempted a go-around. The airplane impacted the ground about 700 feet short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the structure underlying the nose landing gear. The pilot and flight instructor were uninjured. The airplane had not been registered since its purchase by the current owner. ## Factual narrative The pilot attempted a simulated forced landing at the airport by entering the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 28 (2,796 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) during an instructional flight. During final approach, the pilot realized the airplane was not going to reach the runway and attempted a go-around. The airplane impacted the ground about 700 feet short of the runway resulting in substantial damage to the airplane structure underlying the nose landing gear. The pilot and flight instructor were uninjured. The airplane had not been registered since its purchase by the current aircraft owner. There was no report made of an incident/accident to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) or Federal Aviation Administration until March 3, 2010, at which time the pilot contacted the NTSB. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5418L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5418L-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N AA5-0398, built 1973 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5-0398 - Airframe hours: 2298 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Unregistered - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 2009 - Departed: CFE, Buffalo, MN - Destination: MGG, Maple Lake, MN - Airport: MGG, Maple Lake Municipal Airport, runway 28, 2,796 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 170 total, 11 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 3,680 total, 1 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20100227028889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100227028889A), Feb 27, 2010: Grumman Ame AA-5, Maple Lake, MN, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Was exercising his CFI privilege while giving [privacy data omitted] his biennial flight review. Once airborne, [privacy data omitted]… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75484. 783 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 646 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Flight Instructor (item 2, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328392&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Flight%20Instructor-Master.PDF 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.