# NTSB FTW87FA219: Grumman American AA-5A, N6035L, Corpus Christi, TX, September 16, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 15, 1987, 19:40 local (Sep 16, 1987, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Corpus Christi, TX
- Coordinates: 27.730335, -97.389778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7303&lon=-97.3898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22278
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA219
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22278/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA219

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6035L-1989-11-29), registration cancelled 1989-11-29, S/N AA50135 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5A
- Registry model: [American AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-5) (registry code 0631410) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA50135
- Airframe hours: 2150
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870915053019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870915053019A), Sep 15, 1987: Gulstm AA5, Corpus Christi, TX, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Aircraft spun in during a hammerhead stall at low altitude. Aircraft over gross weight and beyond aft CG.

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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