# NTSB ERA23LA019: Gulfstream American AA-5A, N26944, Knoxville, TN, October 14, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 14, 2022, 10:27 local (14:27 UTC)
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.963833, -83.873667 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9638&lon=-83.8737&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- 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): 106129
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106129/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106129
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA019

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s loss of directional control on landing.

## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream American AA-5A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3970104), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream American AA-5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=3970104), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Gulfstream American AA-5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3970104), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was on his first solo flight and was attempting to land. Just before touch down, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the left side of the runway, and it struck a ditch. Subsequently, the left horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26944](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26944), registered now, S/N AA5A0829 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM AMERICAN CORP AA-5A
- Registry model: [Gulfstream American AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-aa-5a) (registry code 3970104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5A0829
- Airframe hours: 3781.7
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 22, 2022
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: DKX, Knoxville Downtown Island, runway 8, 3,499 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 56.2 total, 8 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 6 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: DKX
- METAR: 14/10/2022 14:35->	
METAR KDKX 141435Z AUTO 26006G12KT 10SM CLR 15/05 A3002

## 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 20221014016169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221014016169A), Oct 14, 2022: Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. On 10/14/2022 at approximately 1055 eastern time, a Gulfstream American AA-5A was reported as an accident at downtown island airport (dkx) in Knoxville TN. The…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106129. 17.9 MB in all.

- FAA inspector statement with pilot statements and investigation photos (item 1, PDF, 37 pages, 17.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14623434&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20with%20Pilot%20Statements%20and%20Photos_Redacted-Rel.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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