# NTSB ERA15LA266: Grumman American Avn. AA 5, N1356R, Southbridge, MA, July 13, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 13, 2015, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Southbridge, MA - Coordinates: 42.107223, -72.036941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1072&lon=-72.0369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91549 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA266 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91549/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91549 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA266 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff with insufficient runway remaining, 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-5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot reported that, during takeoff from a 3,501-ft-long asphalt runway, a gust of wind yawed the airplane left at rotation and it became airborne. The pilot corrected for the yaw and was able to maintain runway heading; however, he chose to reject the takeoff rather than trying to continue. The airplane touched down and the pilot applied heavy braking, but was unable to stop the airplane before it continued off the runway and impacted trees and brush at the perimeter of the airport. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The reported wind at a nearby airport about the time of the accident was variable at 4 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 2015, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5, N1356R, was substantially damaged during impact with trees following a runway excursion at the Southbridge Municipal Airport (3B0), Southbridge, Massachusetts. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.Runway 02 was 3,501 feet long, 75 feet wide, and consisted of asphalt. The pilot stated that the preflight inspection and the taxi to runway 02 were normal. During the takeoff roll at about rotation speed, a gust of wind yawed the airplane to the left and it became airborne. The pilot corrected for the yaw and was able to maintain runway heading, but he elected to reject the takeoff as he felt it was the safer option, rather than trying to continue. The airplane touched back down and the pilot applied heavy braking, but was unable to stop before impacting trees and brush at the perimeter of the airport. Examination of the airplane at the accident scene by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that it came to rest upright in an area of shrubbery and small trees, against the airport perimeter fence about 600 feet beyond the end of runway 02. The left wing sustained impact damage to the leading edge and upper surface, outboard of midspan. The right wing leading edge was damaged along the outer one-third of its span. The nose landing gear was separated from the fuselage. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multiengine land, instrument airplane, and a type rating for the Boeing 737. He reported 21,623 total flight hours of experience, with 30 hours in the same make and model as the accident aircraft. His most recent first-class medical examination was performed on February 11, 2015. The 1454 recorded weather observation at Worcester Regional Airport, located 12 miles northeast of 3B0, included variable wind direction at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 27 degrees C, dew point 16 degrees C, few clouds at 3,800 feet above ground level, and the altimeter setting was 29.93 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1356R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1356R-2018-07-02), registration cancelled 2018-07-02, S/N AA5-0756, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA 5 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5) (registry code 3960104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5-0756 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 2093 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 2015, 55 hours before - Departed: 3B0, Southbridge, MA - Destination: 3B0, Southbridge, MA - Airport: 3B0, Southbridge Muni, runway 02, 3,501 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 9, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 21,623 total, 30 in this make and model, 21,323 as pilot in command, 191 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KORH, 12 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 20150713011869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150713011869A), Jul 13, 2015: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5, Southbridge, MA, Substantial damage. On liftoff the aircraft entered a crosswind/windshear condition. The pilot felt he could not make a successful takeoff so he elected to land. During landing in… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 19, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91549. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464178&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Written Statement (item 2, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Written%20Statement-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 3 photos, 706 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 5, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-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. --- 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.