# NTSB CEN15LA417: Grumman American Avn. AA 5, N67296, Pekin, IN, September 5, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 2015, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Pekin, IN - Coordinates: 38.474998, -85.997222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4750&lon=-85.9972&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 11, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 92014 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA417 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92014/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92014 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA417 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll due to contact with a corn crop that extended into the runway area. Contributing to the accident were the lack of accurate available information to the pilot regarding the runway condition, the pilot's failure to observe the intervening corn crop during the prelanding aerial fly-over, and his decision to land on a runway with a limited safety margin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Availability of related info (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he inquired about the runway condition at the intended destination private-use airport before the accident flight. He was informed that the runway was 40 ft wide by 2,000 ft long. Upon arrival, the pilot overflew the runway at 1,500 ft above ground level and noted that the runway appeared to have been "mowed." The pilot subsequently established the airplane on a long final. As he was landing, he observed corn extending from an adjacent field into the runway area. He chose to continue the landing rather than attempt a go-around. During the landing, the left wing struck the protruding corn crop, and the left main wheel dropped off the grass runway and pulled the airplane into the corn. The pilot did not report any preimpact failures or malfunctions with the airplane. A postaccident examination of the runway environment revealed that the runway width had been reduced from about 40 to 32 ft in the area of the impinging corn crop, which was located about 375 ft from the approach end of the runway. The airplane's wingspan was 31 ft 5 inches. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 2015, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5 airplane, N67296, impacted a corn crop during landing rollout on runway 1 (40 feet by 1,200 feet, turf) at the Spring Lake Airport (IN43), Pekin, Indiana. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane was registered to the pilot-rated passenger and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The airplane was based at Sumner County Regional Airport (M33), Gallatin, Tennessee. The accident airport, IN43, was the intended destination.The pilot informed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that they were planning to look at an ultralight aircraft that was for sale. The individual meeting the pilots reportedly informed them that the runway was 40 feet wide by 2,000 feet long. Upon arrival, the pilot stated that he overflew the runway northbound at 1,500 feet above ground level; the runway appeared to have been "mowed." The pilot subsequently established the airplane on a long final and crossed the approach threshold at 70 mph. As he was landing, he observed corn from the adjacent field protruding into the runway area. He elected to continue the landing rather than attempt a go-around at that point. The left wing ultimately struck the protruding corn crop and the left main wheel dropped off the grass runway, pulling the airplane into the corn. The pilot did not report any preimpact failures or malfunctions related to the airplane. The pilot-rated passenger reported that a section of the adjoining corn crop extended about 6 feet into the left side of the runway area. Otherwise, the runway was "perfect" and appeared to have been recently mowed. He noted that the pilot conducted a "high pass" before landing in order to assess the runway condition, but they did not observe the intervening corn crop. The left wing subsequently impacted the corn during the landing rollout while the airplane was still traveling about 45 mph. A postaccident examination of the runway by FAA inspectors determined that the basic landing area was approximately 40 feet wide by 1,200 feet long. However, about 375 feet from the approach/landing threshold, a portion of the crop from the adjacent corn field was planted into the landing area and reduced the available runway width to approximately 32 feet 6 inches. Damage to the corn crop in that area was consistent with contact from the accident airplane. The airplane wingspan was 31 feet 5 inches. The Spring Lake Airport (IN43) is a private use airport and permission is required prior to landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67296](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67296), registered now, S/N AA5-0764, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA 5 (UNDESIGNAT) - 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: AA5-0764 - Year built: 1975 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: M33, Gallatin, TN - Destination: IN43, Pekin, IN - Airport: IN43, Spring Lake, runway 1, 1,200 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 28, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1,450 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: SDF, 21 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 20150905014789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150905014789A), Sep 5, 2015: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5, Pekin, IN, Substantial damage. On September 5, 2015, at approximately 1200 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Grumman-american AA5, N67296, ^owned by an individual and flown by his son^, a… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 31, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92014. 917 KB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 308 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440588&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Conversation Record - Michael Nickens (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440589&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20-%20Michael%20Nickens-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440590&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Summary of Runway Condition (item 4, .PDF, 227 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Runway%20Condition-Master.PDF - Airport Information - IN43 (item 5, .PDF, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Information%20-%20IN43-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.