# NTSB FTW85LA284: Grumman AA5B, N4520B, Sonora, TX, July 11, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1985, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Sonora, TX
- Coordinates: 30.570951, -100.639015 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5710&lon=-100.6390&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21797
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA284
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21797/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA284

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - downhill (contributing factor)
  - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance,landing capability - deteriorated (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run
  - object - fence
  - aborted landing - delayed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE LANDING AT AN UNFAMILIAR STRIP, THE PLT OBSERVED A ROUGH SURFACE AT THE APCH END, AND LANDED ONE HALFWAY DOWN THE DOWN-SLOPING 2300 FT RWY. HE TRIED TO GO AROUND, BUT COULD NOT ACCELERATE ENOUGH, AND THE ACFT ROLLED THRU 2 FENCES, TREES, THEN STOPPED AGAINST ANOTHER FENCE. THE DENSITY ALT WAS 5400 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4520B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4520B), registered now, S/N AA5B1060, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Grumman AA5B
- 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: AA5B1060
- Airframe hours: 1340
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mike Shelton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 21, 1984
- Departed: E02, ODESSA, TX
- Airport: 86R, Texas A&M Exp. Research, runway 16, 2,065 × 60 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 351 total, 322 in this make and model, 330 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: SJT

## 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 19850711030999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850711030999A), Jul 11, 1985: Gulstm AA5B, Sonora, TX, Substantial damage. Touched down on last half of airstrip, tried a go around and struck trees and fences off the runway end.

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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