# NTSB CHI00LA142: American AA-1, N5712L, Sandstone, MN, May 23, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 23, 2000, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Sandstone, MN - Coordinates: 46.119792, -92.860908 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1198&lon=-92.8609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49283 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49283/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA142 ## Probable cause the pilot not attaining an airspeed necessary for the go-around and not maintaining clearance from terrain. Factors were the crosswind, gust, and the collapsed nose gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed (contributing factor) - Nose over, other - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged during an attempted go around and nose over on runway 35. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated, 'The landing went well until I touched down and a wind gust ballooned the plane 5 to 10 ft into the air. I added power in an attempt to go around but did not have sufficient airspeed and the plane contacted the runway nose wheel 1st. The front gear collapsed and the prop struck the runway. The plane proceeded another 100 ft or so in a nose low attitude and went off the right side of the runway. After proceeding through some grass the plane flipped over frontwards and stopped inverted.' The pilot further stated, 'I believe, and other pilots have commented, that crosswinds here are unusually gusty because of the trees that border the west side of the runway.' Wind at Mora, Minnesota was 280 degrees at 16 knots gusts to 23 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2000, at 1630 central daylight time, an American AA-1, N5712L, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an attempted go around and nose over on runway 35 (2,900 feet by 60 feet, dry/asphalt) at Sandstone Municipal Airport, near Sandstone, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating under a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Sawyer County Airport, near Hayward, Wisconsin at 1530. The pilot stated, "When I arrived at Sandtone about 4:30 the wind was straight west and rather brisk. I decided to try landing on runway 35 Sandstone. If the crosswind was too bad I intended to go to Burnette county which has cross runways. The landing went well until I touched down and a wind gust ballooned the plane 5 to 10 ft into the air. I added power in an attempt to go around but did not have sufficient airspeed and the plane contacted the runway nose wheel 1st. The front gear collapsed and the prop struck the runway. The plane proceeded another 100 ft or so in a nose low attitude and went off the right side of the runway. After proceeding through some grass the plane flipped over frontwards and stopped inverted." The pilot further stated, "I believe, and other pilots have commented, that crosswinds here are unusually gusty because of the trees that border the west side of the runway." At 1655, the Mora Municipal Airport, Mora, Minnesota, weather was: Wind 280 degrees at 16 knots gusts to 23 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 24 degrees C; dew point 6 degrees C; altimeter 29.46 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5712L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5712L-2018-08-24), registration cancelled 2018-08-24, S/N AA1-0112, 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: AA1-0112 - Airframe hours: 2459 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert Leonard Ellson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1999, 99 hours before - Departed: HYR, HAYWARD, WI - Destination: 57Y - Airport: 57Y, Sandstone Muni Airport, runway 35, 2,900 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 335 total, 30 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 16 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JMR, 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 20000523011569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000523011569A), May 23, 2000: Amrgen AA1, Sandstone, MN, No damage. (-23) Tahe a/c flipped over, after striking the nose gear during an attempted cross-wind landing, causing substantail damage to the a/c and minor injuries to… 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.