- Date
- September 15, 1987, 19:40 local (Sep 16, 1987, 00:40 UTC)
- Place
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6035LGrumman American AA-5A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 16, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870915053019A
- Case key
- 22278
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft exceeded maximum allowable takeoff weight and aft center of gravity limits. The aircraft had two passengers in the rear seats. The operator's manual states that no passengers are permitted in the rear seats during aerobatic maneuvers. The pilot was observed performing a series of steep climbs, turns, and dives, just prior to the accident. According to witnesses, the aircraft was performing 'hammer head stalls' and 'return-to-target' maneuvers. One witness stated that he observed the aircraft in a spiraling descent just prior to impact. The aircraft impacted the terrain in a near flat attitude. All four occupants of the aircraft had recently completed navy indoc training and were to begin naval flight training.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6035L
- Reported as
- Grumman American AA-5A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA50135
- Airframe hours
- 2,150
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2G, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert Whitlock, doing business as Transue Avn.Inc.
- Registered owner
- Robert S Whitlock
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 2, 1987 · 87 hours before
- Departed
- CRP · Corpus Christi, TX
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 23
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 688 total · 3 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 18 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CRP, 12 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.