# NTSB DEN84FA027: Grumman American AA-5B, N28420, Boulder, CO, November 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 20, 1983, 15:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: Boulder, CO
- Coordinates: 40.020549, -105.24987 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0205&lon=-105.2499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16182
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16182/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA027

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - proper climb rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PLT HAD MADE 3 ATTEMPTS TO LAND & DURING EACH ATTEMPT HE OVERSHOT HIS APPROACH & EXECUTED A GO-AROUND WITHOUT TOUCHING DOWN. ON THE FOURTH ATTEMPT HE DID TOUCH DOWN BUT APPEARED TO BE TOO FAST & THE ACFT SKIPPED & BOUNCED. AFTER PASSING HALFWAY DOWN THE 4,100 FT RWY, THE ACFT BEGAN PORPOISING & THE WINGS WERE ROCKING BACK & FORTH. JUST BEFORE REACHING THE END OF THE RWY, THE ACFT DRIFTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE STRIKING A RWY LIGHT. THE WITNESSES HEARD THE ENG RPM INCREASE & THEY WATCHED THE ACFT STAGGER OFF THE GROUND UNTIL IT DISAPPEARED BEHIND A STEEP DROP-OFF ABOUT 300 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. THE ACFT IMPACTED AT THE BOTTOM OF A RAVINE, FLIPPED OVER & IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT FIRE. TEN DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE PLT RECEIVED A 1.6-HR CHECK-OUT IN THE ACFT. HE DID NOT FLY AGAIN UNTIL THE ACCIDENT FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28420](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28420-2013-07-30), registration cancelled 2013-07-30, S/N AA5B0601, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B0601
- Airframe hours: 1446
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 8 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Castlewood Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Mr. Lynn Massa
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 28, 1983, 90 hours before
- Departed: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Airport: 1V5, Boulder, runway 8, 4,100 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 77 total, 3 in this make and model, 49 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19831120058099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831120058099A), Nov 20, 1983: Gulstm AA5B, Boulder, CO, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Bounced and overcontrolled on 3 tries at landing. On 4th go around settled down an embankment. Crashed in a ditch.

## Other investigations on N28420 (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN80FTE72](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FTE72), Aug 20, 1980: Grum-Amer AA-5B (N28420), Boulder, CO, substantial damage

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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