# NTSB ERA23LA227: Gulfstream American AA-5A, N26941, Knoxville, TN, May 4, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 4, 2023, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.964267, -83.870311
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9643&lon=-83.8703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: 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): 139289
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA227
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/139289/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=139289
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA227

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream American AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3970104), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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; 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.

- [Takeoff: 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)
- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Gulfstream American AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3970104), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was departing on her third solo flight. During the takeoff the airplane began drifting to the left and the pilot attempted to correct with right rudder application. The pilot said that it then felt as if the airplane encountered a gust of wind that pushed it to the left off the runway and into the grass. The airplane’s left wing struck a runway approach light and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26941](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26941), registered now, S/N AA5A0839, built 1979 (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: AA5A0839
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 3577.02
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Fast Track Flight Training
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 21, 2023
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: DKX, Knoxville Downtown Island, runway 26, 3,499 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 49.2 total, 49.2 in this make and model, 2.2 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 11.4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: DKX
- METAR: KDKX 041755Z AUTO 24005G10KT 10SM CLR 20/05 A3003 RMK A01

## 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 20230504007789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230504007789A), May 4, 2023: Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. On may 4, 2023 the aircraft veered off the left side of runway 26 during departure at kdkx at approximately 1845 UTC. The aircraft struck the PAPI on the left…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=139289. 5.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15611626&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20(009)p_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15611440&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Shaneyfelt_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� airplane owner/operator (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15610878&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-Sumner_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15654034&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20Template_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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