# NTSB CHI84LA329: Gulfstream AA-5A, N26883, Wausau, WI, August 4, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 3, 1984, 21:20 local (Aug 4, 1984, 02:20 UTC)
- Place: Wausau, WI
- Coordinates: 44.960353, -89.639793 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9604&lon=-89.6398&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12723
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84LA329
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12723/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA329

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause)
- In flight encounter with weather, descent - emergency
  - initiated, pilot in command
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fss service - initiated, pilot in command
  - radar assistance to vfr aircraft - not possible
  - comm/nav equipment,compass receiver - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
- In flight encounter with weather, descent - emergency
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fss service - inadequate, atc personnel(fss) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG A X-COUNTRY FLT AT 4500 FT, ENG BEGAN SPUTTERING. PLT ADUSTED THE MIX; THEN APPLIED CARB HEAT, BUT RPRTDLY FOR ONLY A SHORT TIME. ENG CONTD OPERG, BUT AT REDUCED PWR. ACFT LOST ALT & DSCNDD INTO CLDS, BUT THE PLT WAS ABLE TO LVL AT APRX500' AGL. HE ELECTED TO DIVERT, CALLED WAUSAU (AUW) FSS, DECLARED AN EMERG & RQSTD ASSIST. FSS HAD NO DF EQUIP. THE ACFTWAS TOO LOW FOR RADAR ID & ITS ADF WAS INOP. PLT WAS UNSURE OF HIS PSN, SO THE FSS SPECIALIST (FSSS) TRIED TO ASSIST BY USING VOR ORIENTATION PROCEDURES. AFTER THE PLT TUNED IN THE STEVENS PT (STE) VOR & RPRTD HDG 10 DEG (PRESUMABLY TO THE VOR), THE FSSS ERRONEOUSLY TOLD HIM HE WAS BTN STE & AUW, WHEN ACTUALLY, HE WAS SOUTH OF BOTH VOR'S & CLOSE TO THE STE ARPT. THE FSSS TOLD THE PLT TO FLY TO AUW VOR (N OF STE). AFTER THE ACFT PASSED NORTH OF STE, THE FSSS ID'D ITS PSN NR ALAKE JUST SOUTH OF AUW & TOLD THE PLT TO CONT TO THE VOR. MOMENTS BFR RDO CONTACT WAS LOST, THE PLT RPRTD 011 DEG TO THEVOR STN. THE ACFT HIT TREES NR MTN TOP APRX 7 MI NW OF THE VOR. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PRBLM FND. CARB ICE COND RPRTD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N26883 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM AA-5A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA50785
- Airframe hours: 1358
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E26 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert E. Antila
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: OSH, OSHKOSH, WI
- Destination: FCM, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: AUW, Wausau Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 80 total, 1 in this make and model, 44 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 154 °F, dew point 151 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AUW, 3 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 19840803037809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840803037809A), Aug 3, 1984: Gulstm AA5A, Wausau, WI, Destroyed. Loss of power due to carburetor icing. Hit trees on side of hill. Bypassed stevens point airport due to confusion.

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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