# NTSB ERA20CA155: Grumman AA5, N314JG, Bloomingdale, GA, April 21, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 21, 2020, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Bloomingdale, GA - Coordinates: 32.159721, -81.39833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1597&lon=-81.3983&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101188 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101188/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101188 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA155 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing with a gusting quartering tailwind. ## 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-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](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was returning to his home airport. The accident occurred during the landing attempt; the pilot could not recall the approach or accident sequence due to his injuries. According to a witness who lived near the airport, he heard the airplane and saw it fly over the midfield before it entered the left downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 13. He noted that the engine power was "pulled back." A few minutes later, the witness heard an impact. The airplane impacted trees and terrain on the left side of the runway and came to rest about 1,000 ft past the runway's approach end. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the wreckage stated that he found no preaccident anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to a report from an airport 10 miles southeast of the accident site, the wind was gusting to 18 knots. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he had an uneventful flight to a nearby airport, and then departed to return to his home airport. The accident occurred during the subsequent landing attempt; however, the pilot did not recall the approach or accident sequence due to his injuries. According to a witness that lived near the airport, he heard the airplane and saw it fly over midfield before it entered the left downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 13. He noted that the engine power was "pulled back." A few minutes later, the witness heard an impact and rushed to the accident site. The airplane impacted trees and terrain on the left side of runway and came to rest about 1,000 ft from the approach end of the runway. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that there were no anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. The wind reported at an airport 10 miles to the southeast of the accident location was from 290° at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N314JG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N314JG-2020-08-21), registration cancelled 2020-08-21, S/N AA5B-0083 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman AA5 (B) - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5B-0083 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 2297.61 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 13, 2019 - Departed: TBR, Statesboro, GA - Destination: GA35, Bloomingdale, GA - Airport: GA35, Cypress Lakes, runway 13, 2,700 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 28, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 1,035 total, 1,034 in this make and model, 1,012 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: SAV, 10 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 20200421004549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200421004549A), Apr 21, 2020: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5B, Bloomimgdale, GA, Destroyed. On April 21, 2020 at approximately 1445 local time, pilot [privacy data omitted] of N314JG, Grumman tiger aircraft attempted to land on runway 31 at Cypress… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101188. 19.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 16.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484987&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Witness Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484988&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Witness%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484990&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Investigative Photographs (item 5, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484991&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-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.