# NTSB DEN81FTK16: Grum-Amer AA-5B, N81272, Custer, SD, July 28, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 28, 1981
- Place: Custer, SD · CUSTER, SD
- Location: 43.7667° N, 103.5996° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Custer, SD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7667&lon=-103.5996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123588
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTK16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTK16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3326  81/7/28    CUSTER,SD           GRUM-AMER AA-5B     CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 27, 340
        TIME - 1200                    N81272              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 279 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CUSTER COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CUSTER,SD                   RAPID CITY,SD
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           TAKEOFF: ABORTED
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          TAKEOFF: ABORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED ACTION IN ABORTING TAKEOFF
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: OTHER
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - RAN OFF END OF RUNWAY
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT QUARTERING TAIL WIND 203-247 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           82                                                      225
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           5                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- ELECTED TO TKOF W 5KT TAIL WND ON DWNHILL GRADIENT.D/A APRX 8100FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81272](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81272-2013-04-18), registration cancelled 2013-04-18, S/N AA5B0481, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUM-AMER AA-5B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Custer County

## 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 19810728045829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810728045829A), Jul 28, 1981: Grumav AA5B, Custer, SD, Substantial damage. Misjudged wind and density altitude on downwind takeoff. Aborted. Ran off end of runway into a fence.

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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