# NTSB CEN10CA384: American AA-1, N5660L, Gallup, NM, July 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 19, 2010, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Gallup, NM - Coordinates: 35.511112, -108.789169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5111&lon=-108.7892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76575 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA384 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76575/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76575 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA384 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and failure to attain an adequate airspeed that led to a stall/mush. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for an off-airport landing and the high density altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [American AA-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [American AA-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [American AA-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0630610), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis While en route on a cross-country flight, the pilot decided to land at an upcoming airport to replenish the airplane's fuel supply. He chose that specific airport because he thought that its lower elevation would be a better choice than his original planned stop. As was his normal practice at an unfamiliar airport, he opted to perform a touch-and-go practice takeoff and landing. After a normal touchdown, he input full throttle and began the departure. As the airplane passed the end of the runway, it began to lose altitude. Believing that he could not make it back to the runway, the pilot attempted to locate a suitable area to make a forced landing. The airplane could not make it to his selected area and collided with terrain, separating both wings from the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact anomalies with the airframe or engine. The density altitude at the time of the accident was about 10,200 feet. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that while en route on a cross-country flight, he decided to stop at the Gallup Municipal Airport (GUP) in order to get fuel. He also believed that the airport’s lower elevation would be a better choice than his original planned stop. He added that at unfamiliar airports, he preferred to do a “touch-n-go” before landing. So, he did a normal approach and touched down before adding “full-throttle”, and “took-off at 80-mph; [however, and] only got to about 35-40 feet (of altitude).” Once past the runway end, he started to lose altitude. The pilot leaned out the airplane’s engine but kept losing altitude. Believing that he could not make it back to the runway, he looked for a place for a forced landing. The pilot reported he was unable to make his landing spot and that his only option was to “simply pull-up the nose and pancake in”. During the maneuver the airplane’s left wing struck the ground and subsequently both the airplane's left and right wings separated. The engine remained attached to the fuselage by the various electrical/control wires and cables. The pilot reported no pre-impact anomalies with the airplane’s flight controls or engine. A post accident calculation of the density altitude, indicated that at the time of accident, the density altitude was about 10,200 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5660L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5660L-2017-03-24), registration cancelled 2017-03-24, S/N AA1-0060, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN AA-1 - Registry model: [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (registry code 0630610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA1-0060 - Airframe hours: 1499 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2009 - Departed: KLVS, Las Vegas, NV - Destination: KSEZ, Sedona, AZ - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KGUP, Gallup Municipal Airport, runway 24, 7,316 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 5,500 total, 27 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KGUP ## 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 20100719037949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100719037949A), Jul 19, 2010: American AA-1, Gallup, NM, Destroyed. On 07/19/2010, at approximately 1145 MDT, N5660L lost control and impacted the ground approximately 2 miles ssw of Gallup municipal airport, Gallup , new… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76575. 805 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337119&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337120&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337121&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Left side of wrecked airplane (item 4, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337122&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Left%20side%20of%20wrecked%20airplane-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.