# NTSB FTW02LA101: Grumman AA-5, N9265L, Lamar, CO, March 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 24, 2002, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Lamar, CO - Coordinates: 38.08057, -102.609222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0806&lon=-102.6092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administartion (FSDO) - NTSB case key (mKey): 54394 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54394/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54394 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA101 ## Probable cause the pilot's delay in taking immediate remedial action after the flight encountered icing conditions, which resulted in a collision with terrain. A contributing factor to the accident was the icing condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - climb - not possible - airframe - ice - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - rising - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot obtained a weather briefing for an IFR flight. The briefer informed the pilot of IFR conditions along the route of flight and an airmet for icing conditions in the northern 1/3 of the state of Colorado; however, the route of flight was not within the airmet's boundaries. The pilot then filed an IFR flight plan. The flight departed and climbed to a cruising altitude of 9,000 feet. The pilot stated that the airplane was in IMC when he observed that the airplane's groundspeed was less than he expected, and that the outside air temperature was slightly below freezing. He contacted air traffic control (ATC), requested a descent to 7,000 feet, and initiated a descent. Rime ice began to accumulate on the airplane's windshield, wings, and vertical stabilizer. The flight continued and was 25-30 miles past the nearest airport when the pilot advised ATC that the airplane could not maintain altitude due to icing. ATC recommended that the pilot reverse course and divert to the airport. The pilot then turned back toward the airport. The pilot stated that the airplane remained in a shallow descent; however, he was able to maintain 80 mph airspeed. The flight broke out of the cloud layer at 4,500 feet. The pilot's outside view was obstructed by the ice covered windshield, except for a 6-inch radius semi-circle that was cleared by the airplane's windshield defroster. The flight continued toward the airport; however, it encountered rising terrain, and subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground. ## Factual narrative On March 24, 2002, at 1500 mountain standard time, a Grumman AA-5 airplane, N9265L, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an emergency descent/landing following an-flight encounter with weather near Lamar, Colorado. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The instrument-rated commercial pilot, and his one passenger, sustained minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Centennial Airport, Denver, Colorado, at 1230, and was destined for the Augusta Airport, Wichita, Kansas, with an intermediate fuel stop at the Garden City Regional Airport, Garden City, Kansas. According to the pilot, he contacted the Denver Automated Flight Service Station (DEN AFSS) and obtained a weather briefing for the flight to Garden City. The briefer informed the pilot of IFR conditions along the route of flight and an airmet for icing conditions in the northern 1/3 of the state of Colorado; however, the route of flight was not within the airmet's boundaries. The pilot then filed an IFR flight plan to Garden City. The flight departed and climbed to a cruising altitude of 9,000 feet. The pilot stated that the airplane was in IMC when he observed that the airplane's groundspeed was less than he expected, and the outside air temperature was slightly below freezing. He contacted air traffic control (ATC), requested a descent to 7,000 feet, and initiated a descent. The pilot stated that the flight was near Lamar when rime ice began to accumulate on the airplane's windshield, wings, and vertical stabilizer. The flight continued and was 25-30 miles past Lamar when the pilot advised ATC that the airplane could not maintain altitude due to icing. ATC recommended that the pilot reverse course and divert to the Lamar Municipal Airport (LAA) in Lamar. The pilot then turned back toward LAA. The pilot stated that the airplane remained in a shallow descent; however, he was able to maintain 80 mph airspeed. The flight broke out of the cloud layer at 4,500 feet, and with the assistance of a handheld GPS, the pilot proceeded direct to LAA. The pilot stated that his view was obstructed by the ice on the windshield. The entire windshield was covered with ice, except for a 6-inch radius semi-circle that was cleared by the airplane's windshield defroster. The flight continued toward Lamar; however, the flight encountered rising terrain. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground and traveled 100 feet before coming to a stop upright, approximately 1 mile southeast of LAA. During the impact, the firewall was wrinkled, the engine mount was damaged, and both wings sustained structural damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9265L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9265L-2005-02-15), registration cancelled 2005-02-15, S/N AA5-0250, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman AA-5 - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5) (registry code 3960104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5-0250 - Airframe hours: 3164 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward A. Wenninger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 27, 2001, 10 hours before - Departed: APA, Denver, CO - Destination: GCK, Garden City, KS - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LAA, Lamar Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 22, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,857 total, 566 in this make and model, 1,112 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 14 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: LAA, 1 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 20020324006089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020324006089A), Mar 24, 2002: Amrgen AA5, Lamar, CO, No damage. (-23) The aircraft was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an emergency descent/landing near Lamar, CO. The aircraft was registered to and… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 7, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54394. 829 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 267 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395521&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395522&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 3, .PDF, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40163179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of ice chunks removed from the airframe after the accident (item 4, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40163180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20ice%20chunks%20removed%20from%20the%20airframe%20after%20the%20accident-Master.PDF - Photo 2: View of the accident site (item 5, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40163181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20View%20of%20the%20accident%20site-Master.PDF - Photo 3: View of the ice covered windshield after the accident (item 6, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40163182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20View%20of%20the%20ice%20covered%20windshield%20after%20the%20accident%20-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.