# NTSB CHI81DEP26: Grumman AA-5A, N9820U, Rio, WI, June 28, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 28, 1981
- Place: Rio, WI · RIO, WI
- Location: 43.4522° N, 89.2416° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rio, WI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4522&lon=-89.2416&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124897
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81DEP26
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81DEP26

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1497  81/6/28    RIO,WI              GRUMMAN AA-5A       CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 52, 1747
        TIME - 1300                    N9820U              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 539 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - COWGILL FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RIO,WI                      WHEELING,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: CROP                                      TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 293-337 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           82                                                      180
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           17                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTS TO 29KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9820U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-5A
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Cowgill Field

## 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 19810628037489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810628037489A), Jun 28, 1981: Grumav AA5A, Rio, WI, Substantial damage. Encountered strong downdraft on liftoff. Airplane settled back to ground in wheat off end of runway.

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.

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