# NTSB CHI97LA086: Grumman American AG5B, N125VU, Greencastle, IN, March 12, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 1997, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Greencastle, IN - Coordinates: 39.63908, -86.839454 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6391&lon=-86.8395&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10529 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10529/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA086 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - aborted - object - tree(s) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - ravine ## Analysis The student pilot said that on landing his airplane 'bounced 10 to 20 feet above the runway surface.' The pilot then realized that he was halfway down the length of the runway. He stated that he applied full power to initiate a go around. The left wing dropped and the left wingtip touched the runway. 'The airplane then veered to the left, left the runway, and settled into a ravine which ran parallel to the runway.' Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On March 12, 1997, at 1130 eastern standard time (est), a Grumman-American AG5B, N125VU, operated by a student pilot on initial solo, sustained substantial damage when on landing, the airplane departed runway 36 (4006' X 60') at Putnam County Airport, Greencastle, Indiana. The airplane subsequently went into a ravine and struck some trees before coming to rest. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not on file. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated at Vincennes, Indiana, at 1120 est. In his written statement, the student pilot said that on landing his airplane "bounced 10 to 20 feet above the runway surface." The pilot then realized that he was halfway down the length of the runway. He stated that he applied full power to initiate a go around. The left wing dropped and the left wingtip touched the runway. "The airplane then veered to the left, left the runway, and settled into a ravine which ran parallel to the runway." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage at the accident site found the airplane resting upright in a ravine, in the mud, among some trees, 100 feet west of the runway. The engine mount was bent upward and to the right. The engine cowling was cracked. The nose gear was broken aft underneath the airplane. The right main landing gear was bent underneath the airplane and broken aft. The leading edge of both wings were crushed aft. The left wing tip was scraped. Both wing main spars were bent aft. Several of the ribs to both wings were bent outboard. One propeller blade was nicked near the tip. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found with the engine, engine controls, steering or other airplane systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: N125VU (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AG5B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10061 - Airframe hours: 1960 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Board Of Trustees, Vincennes - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 28, 1996, 50 hours before - Departed: LWV, VINCENNES, IN - Destination: 4I7 - Airport: 4I7, Putnam County Airport, runway 36, 4,006 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F ## 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 19970312003039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970312003039A), Mar 12, 1997: Amrgen AG5B, Greencastle, IN, Substantial damage. Aircraft encountered a crosswind on landing and crashed. (-23) the student pilot had become distracted by another aircraft in the traffic pattern, which… 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.