- Date
- September 29, 2007, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Warrenton, MO
- Injuries
- 3 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9583LGrumman American AA-5 Traveler
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- STL FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070929825229A
- Case key
- 66931
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The low airspeed gust factor by the pilot, the altitude/clearance not maintained by the pilot, and the inadequate compensation for wind conditions by the pilot during the landing approach. Contributing factors were the trees and wind gusts.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft was substantially damaged after it impacted trees and terrain while on approach for landing. The accident landing attempt was the pilot's sixth and last one for the day because of increasing wind variability. The pilot and three passengers reported minor injuries. The pilot was conducting rides for children of a local organization. The pilot reported that during the base to final turn, the airplane experienced a 100 foot per second descent rate from a wind gust. The pilot reportedly applied full power during recovery, but the airplane descended further when it encountered another wind gust. The pilot reported trying to put the airplane into a full stall so it would not impact the trees nose first. Examination of the airplane revealed impact damage to the right wing from the tree. The flaps were not fully extended.
Factual narrative
The aircraft was substantially damaged after it impacted trees and terrain while on approach for landing. The accident landing attempt was the pilot's sixth and last one for the day because of increasing wind variability. The pilot and three passengers reported minor injuries. The pilot was conducting rides for children of a local organization. The pilot reported that during the base to final turn, the airplane experienced a 100 foot per second descent rate from a wind gust. The pilot reportedly applied full power during recovery, but the airplane descended further when it encountered another wind gust. The pilot reported trying to put the airplane into a full stall so it would not impact the trees nose first.
Examination of the airplane revealed impact damage to the right wing from the tree. The flaps were not fully extended. The pilot did not have his required pilot certificate and medical certificate with him during the operation of the airplane. There was no airworthiness certificate nor a aircraft registration certificate aboard the airplane which is contrary to Federal Aviation Regulations.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9583L
- Reported as
- Grumman American AA-5 Traveler
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA5-0583
- Airframe hours
- 1,937
- Engine
- Textron Lycoming O-320-E2G, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 2007
- Departed
- KBPK · Mountain Home, AR
- Destination
- MU02 · Wwarrenton, MO
- Airport
- MU02 · C.E.F. Airport, runway 13, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 338 total · 265 in this make and model · 302 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.19 inHg
- Observed at
- SUS, 25 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.