- Date
- October 24, 2007, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Wheatland, WY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5859LGrumman American AA-5
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 66986
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to execute an off-airport landing on a dirt road. A contributing factor was the soft terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot attempted to the land the airplane on a dirt road to inspect some cattle in a field. During the landing, the main landing gear settled into soft terrain and the airplane yawed left approximately 30 degrees. The pilot attempted to execute a go-around, but was unsuccessful. The airplane impacted a small tree and came to rest on its nose.
Factual narrative
According to a statement provided by the pilot, he attempted to the land the airplane on a dirt road to inspect some cattle in a field. During the landing, the main landing gear settled into soft terrain and the airplane yawed left approximately 30 degrees. The pilot attempted to execute a go-around, but was unsuccessful. The airplane impacted a small tree and came to rest on its nose. Examination of the airplane by recovery personnel revealed the left and right horizontal stabilizers were damaged and the elevator was separated. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered owner, was not injured. The pilot did not submit a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5859L
- Reported as
- Grumman American AA-5
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA5-0059
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Steven Burnett
- Registered owner
- Steven Burnett
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- EAN · Wheatland, WY
- Destination
- Wheatland, WY
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 100 total · 10 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day