# NTSB CHI99LA187: Grumman AA-5KB, N4531R, Iowa City, IA, June 17, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 1999, 14:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Iowa City, IA - Coordinates: 41.669292, -91.509429 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6693&lon=-91.5094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46575 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46575/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA187 ## Probable cause the pilot stalled the airplane. Factors included the instructor pilot's inadequate preflight briefing and improper in flight decision. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that as they flew the left downwind for the touch and go on runway 24, the flight instructor 'mentioned an approach which involved a short field, soft field, dead stick over a 50 foot obstacle.' The pilot reported that he attempted to land using the suggested technique. The pilot reported the flight instructor told him when to pull the power to idle and begin the glide. The pilot reported, '... I realized I was too high, so [I] made an 'S' turn to the south and then to the north, descending all the while.' At 50 feet agl the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot applied full power and lowered the nose slightly, but the airplane impacted the soft ground beside the runway in a 'pancake' fashion. The pilot reported the instructor pilot did not brief the landing technique prior to the flight, and the flight instructor did not demonstrate the maneuver in flight. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 1999, at 1440 central daylight time, a Grumman AA-5B, N4531R, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground during a touch and go landing. The pilots were practicing a landing using the short field landing over a 50 foot obstacle technique. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed Washington Municipal Airport, Washington, Iowa, en route to Iowa City Municipal Airport, Iowa City, Iowa, on a local training flight. The pilot reported the training flight was the second flight hour of the required three flight hours leading to Level VII of the Pilot Proficiency Award Program. The private pilot and instructor pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported they had practiced several touch and goes at the Washington Municipal Airport. He reported they returned to Iowa City Municipal Airport and completed two more touch and goes. The second approach was a "short field" landing over a 50 foot obstacle. The pilot reported that the flight instructor did not think the airplane would have cleared a 50 foot obstacle and probably would have run off the "short runway." Another touch and go was attempted. The pilot reported that as they flew the left downwind for runway 24, the flight instructor "mentioned an approach which involved a short field, soft field, dead stick over a 50 foot obstacle." The pilot reported that he repeated the landing instructions and attempted to land using the suggested technique. The pilot reported the flight instructor told him when to pull the power to idle and begin the glide. The pilot reported that he "realized I was too high, so [I] made an "S" turn to the south and then to the north, descending all the while." He reported that the airplane was north of runway 24 and at 50 feet agl when the stall warning horn sounded. He reported that he immediately applied full power and lowered the nose slightly. He reported the airplane impacted the soft ground beside the runway in a "pancake" fashion. Rescue personnel were required to get the pilots out of the airplane. The pilots were transported to a hospital for observation and minor injuries. The pilot reported the instructor pilot did not brief the landing technique prior to the flight, and the flight instructor did not demonstrate the maneuver in flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4531R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4531R), registered now, S/N AA5B1163 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman AA-5KB - Registry model: [Gulfstream American AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-aa-5b) (registry code 3970106) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5B-1163 - Airframe hours: 1100 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dean Thornberry - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 1998, 33 hours before - Departed: IOW, WASHINGTON, IA - Destination: IOW - Airport: IOW, Iowa Municipal Airport, runway 24, 4,345 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 641 total, 584 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IOW ## 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 19990617045009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990617045009A), Jun 17, 1999: Amrgen AA5B, Iowa City, IA, No damage. (-23) During approach and while doing an "s" turn to slow the a/c, the pilot lost too much airspeed, resulting in the aircraft impacting the ground and… 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.