- Date
- December 20, 2012, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place
- Hot Springs, VA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5813LAmerican AA-5
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 3, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20121220027689A
- Case key
- 85830
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 failure to maintain airplane control while attempting to land in crosswind conditions.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, the airplane experienced light turbulence during the final approach to runway 7, and the wind sock indicated a direct crosswind from the right. The airplane touched down on the runway, bounced, and the pilot added engine power. As the power increased, the pitch of the airplane increased, and the pilot attempted to level the airplane. The stall warning horn sounded, the right wing of the airplane lifted, and the airplane turned about 45 degrees off the runway centerline. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground near a taxiway off the left side of the runway, and struck several trees before coming to rest, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The wind reported at the airport about the time of the accident was from 140 degrees at 8 knots gusting to 17 knots.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, the airplane experienced light turbulence during the final approach to runway 7 and the wind sock indicated a direct crosswind from the right. The airplane touched down on the runway, bounced, and the pilot added engine power. As the power increased, the attitude of the airplane increased, and the pilot attempted to level the airplane. Then, the stall warning horn sounded, the right wing of the airplane lifted, and the airplane turned about 45 degrees off the runway centerline. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground near a taxiway off the left side of the runway, and struck several trees prior to coming to rest, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The wind reported at the airport about the time of the accident was from 140 degrees at 8 knots gusting to 17 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5813L
- Reported as
- American AA-5
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA5-0013
- Airframe hours
- 3,126
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- All Aviation West Coast Inc
- Registered owner
- All Aviation West Coast Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 12, 2012 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- W99 · Petersburg, WV
- Destination
- HSP · Hot Springs, VA
- Airport
- HSP · Ingalls Field Airport, runway 07, 3,200 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 36
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 253 total · 20 in this make and model · 129 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 8 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HSP
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5813L · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.