# NTSB ERA11CA492: Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, N9982U, Cleveland, GA, September 15, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 15, 2011, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Cleveland, GA
- Coordinates: 34.558887, -83.713333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5589&lon=-83.7133&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81815
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA492
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81815/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81815
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA492

## Probable cause

The pilot's poor decision to land with a tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing on a turf runway with a tailwind gusting to 15 knots. During the landing, the pilot could not slow the airplane before it departed the end of the runway and impacted a fence, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot approached the 2,500-foot-long turf runway with a tailwind gusting to 15 knots. During the landing, the pilot could not slow the airplane before it departed the end of the runway and impacted a fence, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9982U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9982U-2011-12-22), registration cancelled 2011-12-22, S/N AA5A0382 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5A
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5A0382
- Airframe hours: 2380
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2010
- Departed: 18A, Canon, GA
- Destination: 0GE5, Cleveland, GA
- Airport: 0GE5, Mountain Airpark, runway 17, 2,500 × 200 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 520 total, 120 in this make and model, 365 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: WDR, 35 nm away

## 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 20110915021269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110915021269A), Sep 15, 2011: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A, Cleveland, GA, Substantial damage. The pilot of the aircraft stated that there was approximately a 15 knot tailwind while attempting to land on a 2500 x 200FT turf runway at a private airpark.…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81815. 5.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354612&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 282 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354613&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Airplane From Right (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354614&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20From%20Right%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Airplane From Left (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354615&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Airplane%20From%20Left%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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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