# NTSB CEN13CA133: American General Acft AG5B, N897GA, Ankeny, IA, January 12, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 11, 2013, 23:30 local (Jan 12, 2013, 05:30 UTC) - Place: Ankeny, IA - Coordinates: 41.691112, -93.56639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6911&lon=-93.5664&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86020 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86020/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86020 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA133 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glide path to the runway in gusty wind conditions and his failure to maintain clearance from obstructions during the subsequent go-around. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper interior lighting configuration. ## 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: [American General Acft AG5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=3990100), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American General Acft AG5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=3990100), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American General Acft AG5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500/cases.md?model=3990100), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500/cases.md) - [Lighting system: flight compartment lighting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023310): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American General Acft AG5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023310/cases.md?model=3990100), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023310/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American General Acft AG5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=3990100), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/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: [American General Acft AG5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=3990100), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that before arriving at his destination airport in night visual meteorological conditions, he listened to the automated weather observing system, which indicated wind from 220 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 26 knots. The pilot aborted his first attempt to land after a bounced landing. During the second approach to land, the pilot observed the visual approach slope indicator rapidly transition from both white (indicating high on the glideslope) to both red (indicating low on the glideslope) and decided to perform a go-around. During the attempted go-around, the airplane’s left wing struck a tree, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot then landed the airplane without further incident on his third landing attempt. The pilot stated that the airplane’s interior lighting was too bright for the night conditions and that the bright runway lights in the dark rural setting gave him a “false sense of night vision.” ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that before arriving at his destination airport in night visual meteorological conditions, he listened to the automated weather observing system, which broadcast wind from 220 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 26 knots. The pilot executed a go-around on his first attempt due to a bounced landing on runway 22. During the second attempt, on the base to final turn, the pilot observed the visual approach slope indicator rapidly transition from both white to both red. The pilot advanced the throttle to execute another go-around when the left wing struck a tree. He landed the airplane without further incident on the third attempt. During the impact with the tree the left wing and horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that the interior airplane lighting was too bright for the night conditions and the bright runway lights gave him a false sense of night vision. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N897GA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N897GA), registered now, S/N 10076, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN GENERAL ACFT CORP AG5B - Registry model: [American General Acft AG5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-general-acft-ag5b) (registry code 3990100) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4K](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4k) (registry code 42275, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10076 - Airframe hours: 4519 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KCGI, Cape Girardeau, MO - Destination: KIKV, Ankeny, IA - Airport: KIKV, Ankeny Regional Airport, runway 22, 3,855 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 11 in this make and model, 63 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 200° at 17 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: KIKV, 1 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 20130111000439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130111000439A), Jan 11, 2013: American General Acft Corp AG5B, Ankeny, IA, Substantial damage. The pilot purchased a grummin tiger in Florida and was flying it back to Iowa. He departed kcgi at 8:30PM CST enroute to kikv. When the pilot arrived at kikv… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86020. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387369&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.