# NTSB FTW83FA303: Grumman American AA-5A, N9844U, Houston, TX, June 29, 1983 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 1983, 14:47 local (19:47 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.650499, -95.280342 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6505&lon=-95.2803&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20740 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FA303 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20740/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA303 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) operating - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - seat belt - not used, pilot in command(cfi) - seat belt - not used, dual student - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, dual student (contributing factor) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - clearance - not maintained - On ground/water collision with object, other - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5A, N9844U, HAD JUST LANDED. WHILE TAXING, THE AIRCREW STOPPED SHORT OF RWY 13R AS BEECHCRAFT. HAWKER BH-125, N125E, WAS TAKING OFF. THE RATED STUDENT IN N125E, WHO WAS ON A TRAINING FLT, WAS AT THE CONTROLS & BEGANTHE TAKEOFF. THE POWER-UP & TAKEOFF ROLL WERE NORMAL. ROTATION WAS DESCRIBED AS NORMAL & THE L THROTTLE WAS RETARDED TO IDLE AT 110 KTS, AS PREBRIEFED, TO SIMULATE AN ENG FAILURE. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (IP) STATED THAT THE LIFT OFF APPEARED NORMAL & DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS GOOD UP TO AN ALT OF 10 TO 20 FT. THE L WING THEN STARTED TO DROP & THE STUDENT APPLIEDR AILERON, BUT DID NOT STOP THE ROLL. THE IP BEGAN ADVANCING THE L THROTTLE, BUT DID NOT GET ON THE FLT CONTROLS. THE L WING HIT THE RWY & THE ACFT VEERED LEFT & SETTLED TO THE GROUND. AT IMPACT, BOTH MAIN GEAR MOUNTS FAILED, A FUEL TANK RUPTURED & A FIRE STARTED. N125E THEN SLID INTO N9844U & BOTH ACFT BURNED. BH-125 FLT MAN RCMNDS IP FOLLOW THRU, MAX BANK 5 DEG & CAUTIONS NEGATIVE WXVANING IN X-WND. BH-125 RUDDER BIAS ENGAGED. AA-5A CREW THROWN OUT, SEATBELTS UNLATCHED ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE GRUMMON AMERICAN AA-5A, N9844U, HAD JUST LANDED. WHILE TAXIING, THE AIRCREW STOPPED SHORT OF RWY 13R AS BEECHCRAFT- HAWKER BH-125, N125E, WAS TAKING OFF. THE RATED STUDENT IN N125E, WHO WAS ON A TRAINING FLT, WAS AT THE CONTROLS & BEGANTHE TAKEOFF. THE POWER-UP & TAKEOFF ROLL WERE NORMAL. ROTATION WAS DESCRIBED AS NORMAL & THE L THROTTLE WAS RETARDED TO IDLE AT 110 KTS, AS PREBRIEFED, TO SIMULATE AN ENG FAILURE. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (IP) STATED THAT THE LIFT-OFF APPEARED NORMAL & DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS GOOD UP TO AN ALT OF 10 TO 20 FT. THE L WING THEN STARTED TO DROP & THE STUDENT APPLIEDR AILERON, BUT DID NOT STOP THE ROLL. THE IP BEGAN ADVANCING THE L THROTTLE, BUT DID NOT GET ON THE FLT CONTROLS. THE L WING HIT THE RWY & THE ACFT VEERED LEFT & SETTLED TO THE GROUND. AT IMPACT, BOTH MAIN GEAR MOUNTS FAILED, A FUEL TANK RUPTURED & A FIRE STARTED. N125E THEN SLID INTO N9844U & BOTH ACFT BURNED. BH-125 FLT MAN RCMNDS IP FOLLOW THRU, MAX BANK 5 DEG & CAUTIONS NEGATIVE WXVANING IN X-WND. BH-125 RUDDER BIAS ENGAGED. AA-5A CREW THROWN OUT, SEATBELTS UNLATCHED ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N9844U (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0244 - Airframe hours: 976 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fletcher Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 1983, 72 hours before - Airport: HOU, Hobby ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N125E (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Beech BH-125 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25110 - Airframe hours: 5283 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYCE VIPER 522 3360 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Erasmus , Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 13, 1983, 21 hours before - Destination: BPT, BEAUMONT, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: HOU, Hobby, runway 13R, 7,600 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N9844U; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 401 total, 230 in this make and model, 300 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N125E; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 9,500 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 9,500 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HOU ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19830629073942A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830629073942A), Jun 29, 1983: Gulstm AA5A, Houston, TX, Destroyed. Aircraft holding short of active runway was struck by jet which had become uncontrollable. Other aircraft N125E. - [Accident 19830629073941A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830629073941A), Jun 29, 1983: Hwksly HS125600A, Houston, TX, Destroyed. Pilots lost control of aircraft during V1 engine cut on takeoff and collided with N9844U holding short of runway. 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.