# NTSB ERA24LA353: Gulfstream American AA-5B, N4533F, Mohawk, NY, August 20, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 20, 2024, 14:42 local (18:42 UTC)
- Place: Mohawk, NY
- Coordinates: 42.987571, -74.966544 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9876&lon=-74.9665&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: 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): 194969
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA353
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194969/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194969
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA353

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in wet conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a fence.

## Findings

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

- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Gulfstream American AA-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=3970106), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Gulfstream American AA-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=3970106), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/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-5B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3970106), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [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-5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3970106), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Gulfstream American AA-5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3970106), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Gulfstream American AA-5B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3970106), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported flying a normal approach and landing to the grass runway after a cross-country flight. Upon touching down the wheels dug into the soft, wet ground. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane veered off the runway to the right, impacting with a barbed-wire fence, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4533F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4533F), registered now, S/N AA5B1181, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM AMERICAN CORP AA-5B
- Registry model: [Gulfstream American AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-aa-5b) (registry code 3970106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B1181
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 3596
- Engines: LYCOMING O360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 2024, 16 hours before
- Departed: SFZ, Smithfield, RI
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: NY23, Mac, runway 31, 2,300 × 150 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private, remote; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 7, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,227 total, 1,900 in this make and model, 1,765 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: RME, 24 nm away
- METAR: KRME 201853Z 29007KT 10SM BKN055 OVC070 16/11 A2998 RMK AO2 RAB29E52 SLP153 P0000 T01560106

## 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 20240820012629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240820012629A), Aug 20, 2024: Gulfstream American Corp AA-5B, Mohawk, NY, Substantial damage. Upon touching down the wheels dug into the soft, wet ground. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane veered off the runway to the…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194969. 7.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17563012&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Incident%20Report%20N4533F%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports and records (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17565526&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20RME%20METAR%20Precip-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17563596&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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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