# NTSB ERA25LA108: Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, N74608, Ravenswood, WV, January 30, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 30, 2025, 15:30 UTC
- Place: Ravenswood, WV
- Coordinates: 38.925574, -81.82329
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9256&lon=-81.8233&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: 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): 199643
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199643/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199643
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA108

## Probable cause

The pilot’s distraction during taxi, which resulted in a taxiway excursion.

## 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: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was taxiing to the end of the runway in preparation for takeoff. During the taxi, the pilot noted a fault message on the GPS. While his attention was focused on the GPS, the airplane departed the edge of the taxiway, rolled down a hill, and came to rest in trees and brush. Both of the airplane’s wings were 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: [N74608](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N74608), registered now, S/N AA5B0282, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (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: AA5B0282
- Year built: 1976
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 2024
- Airport: I18, Jackson County
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 12, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 407 total, 252 in this make and model, 5.9 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: PKB, 24 nm away
- METAR: KPKB 301453Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 02/M05 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP227 T00171050 51007

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199643. 121 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 120 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18329282&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18329958&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD-Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18329863&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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