# NTSB CHI99LA176: Grumman American AA-5B, N3791Z, Demotte, IN, June 8, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 8, 1999, 06:00 local (11:00 UTC)
- Place: Demotte, IN
- Coordinates: 41.1609, -87.259971 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1609&lon=-87.2600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 18, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 46512
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46512/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA176

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudging distance/speed resulting in an overrun.  A contributing factor was the wet condition of the turf runway.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass

## Analysis

The private pilot conducted a local flight.  On landing he allowed the airplane to touch down approximately 1,000 feet down the 2,600 foot runway.  He was unable to stop the airplane on the remaining runway due to the wet turf runway. The pilot told investigators that he did not realize the runway was wet prior to the accident.  An examination of the airplane after the accident failed to reveal any pre-existing anomalies.

## Factual narrative

On June 8, 1999, at 0600 eastern standard time, a Grumman American AA-5B, N3791Z, registered to an individual, sustained substantial damage during an overrun on landing on a turf runway, at a private airport, near Demotte, Indiana.  The private pilot reported no injuries.  The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions.  No flight plan was on file.  The local flight departed at 0530.

The pilot said that he landed about 1,000 feet down the 2,600 foot runway and was unable to stop on the remaining runway.  He said that he did not realize that the runway was wet prior to the accident.

Subsequent to the accident an examination of the airplane failed to reveal any pre-existing mechanical anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3791Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3791Z), registered now, S/N AA5B-1254 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-5B
- Registry model: [Gulfstream American AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-aa-5b) (registry code 3970106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B-1254
- Airframe hours: 562
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stephen C. Hoffman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1999, 6 hours before
- Departed: 3C0
- Airport: 3C0, Demotte, runway 36, 2,600 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,040 total, 2 in this make and model, 943 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °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 19990608006629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990608006629A), Jun 8, 1999: Amrgen AA5A, De Motte, IN, Substantial damage. Acft landed long and ran off the end of the rwy. (.4) the private pilot conducted a local flight. On landing he allowed the airplane to touch down…

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.