# NTSB ERA09CA034: Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, N4540L, Bridgeport, CT, November 1, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 1, 2008, 17:04 local (21:04 UTC) - Place: Bridgeport, CT - Coordinates: 41.163612, -73.126113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1636&lon=-73.1261&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69382 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69382/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA034 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during landing and while suffering symptoms of vertigo. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: neurological](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012045): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012045/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012045/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot of the Grumman AA5B stated he was maneuvering in his local training area when he experienced symptoms of "vertigo." The pilot was on a westerly heading in the late afternoon, looking through the propeller, at the onset of the symptoms. He managed to navigate back to his home airport, but during the landing, lost directional control, departed the runway, and collided with an airport sign. The pilot was not injured, but examination of his medical records revealed he was treated by a physician for symptoms of vertigo in the days following the accident. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A), flicker vertigo is defined as: "A disorienting condition caused from flickering light off the blades of the propeller." ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot of the Grumman AA5B stated he was maneuvering in his local training area when he experienced symptoms of "vertigo." The pilot was on a westerly heading in the late afternoon, looking through the propeller, at the onset of the symptoms. He managed to navigate back to his home airport, but during the landing, lost directional control, departed the runway, and collided with an airport sign. The pilot was not injured, but examination of his medical records revealed he was treated by a physician for symptoms of vertigo in the days following the accident. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A), flicker vertigo is defined as: "A disorienting condition caused from flickering light off the blades of the propeller." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4540L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4540L-2022-07-13), registration cancelled 2022-07-13, S/N AA5B1307, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. 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: AA5B1307 - Airframe hours: 7627 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Blue Sky Flight - Registered owner: Calvin Munson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 2008 - Departed: BDR, Bridgeport, CT - Destination: BDR, Bridgeport, CT - Airport: BDR, Bridgeport/Sikorsky, runway 06, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 10, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 46 total, 46 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: BDR ## 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 20081101853189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081101853189A), Nov 1, 2008: Amrgen AA5B, Bridgeport, CT, Substantial damage. During landing on runway 6 at kbdr, the aircraft drifted left after touchdown and struck the runway abatement sign. It came to rest in the tall weeds between… 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.