# NTSB ERA20CA065: American AA5, N9593U, Rutherfordton, NC, January 5, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 5, 2020, 16:49 local (21:49 UTC)
- Place: Rutherfordton, NC
- Coordinates: 35.387222, -82.109169 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3872&lon=-82.1092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100765
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100765/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100765
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA065

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an intentional aerodynamic stall, which resulted in a spin and subsequent collision with terrain.

## Findings

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

- [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-5A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot had planned for a 40-minute scenic local flight with 3 passengers aboard. The pilot was demonstrating an aerodynamic stall when the right wing "dropped very quickly." He attempted to recover and applied opposite rudder, reduced the airplane's pitch, and increased engine power. The airplane then entered a flat spin to the right. The pilot continued to attempt to decrease the airplane's pitch and continued left rudder application, but the airplane continued to spin. The pilot then applied "full back elevator" as the airplane impacted terrain. During the impact the airplane's right wing, horizontal stabilizer, and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9593U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9593U-2023-04-01), registration cancelled 2023-04-01, S/N AA5A-0093, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: American Aviation AA5 (A)
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5A-0093
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 3277
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 2019
- Departed: 0A7, Hendersonville, NC
- Destination: 0A7, Hendersonville, NC
- Airport: 0A7, Hendersonville
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 18, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,448 total, 678 in this make and model, 1,448 as pilot in command, 45.2 in the last 90 days, 14.8 in the last 30 days, 1.6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: AVL, 21 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 20200105003249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200105003249A), Jan 5, 2020: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A, Rutherfordton, NC, Substantial damage. On January 5, 2020 at approximately 1900Z, a Grumman American AA-5A single engine aircraft, N9593U departed on a VFR flight from the hendersonville, NC (0A7)…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 3, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100765. 7.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486624&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486625&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Investigtive Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486626&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigtive%20Photos-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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