- Date
- October 19, 1995, 14:08 local (19:08 UTC)
- Place
- Waller, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N888RGrumman American AA-5B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 22, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951019047449A
- Case key
- 19691
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
a loss of power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot misjudging distance and airspeed resulting in his failure to attain the proper touchdown point.
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 pilot reported that while level at 2,500 feet MSL the engine began to run rough, and 30 seconds later it lost total power. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot contacted Houston Center and was given radar vectors to the Skydive Houston Airport. The pilot overshot the airport and maneuvered to land perpendicular to the runway. Approximately 20 yards from initial touch down, the aircraft's right wing struck a tree. The aircraft came to rest upright 20 to 30 yards past the runway between two hangars. Examination of the airplane revealed evidence of usable fuel. A teardown of the engine was accomplished and no mechanical anomalies were found that would have resulted in a loss of power. The airplane had not been flown for three years. The pilot recently purchased the airplane, and had applied for and received a ferry permit for the flight.
Factual narrative
On October 19, 1995, at 1408 central daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5B Tiger, N888R, registered to and operated by a private owner as a 14 CFR Part 91 ferry flight, collided with a tree during a forced landing at Skydive Houston Airport near Waller, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The private pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from William P. Hobby Airport about 13 minutes before the accident, and was en route to Airpark East Airport, Dallas, Texas.
The pilot reported to a FAA inspector that, while level at 2,500 feet MSL, the engine began to run "rough" and 30 seconds later it lost total power. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot contacted Houston Center and was given radar vectors to the Skydive Houston Airport. The pilot overshot the airport and maneuvered to land perpendicular to the runway. Approximately 20 yards from initial touch down, the aircraft's right wing struck a tree. The aircraft came to rest upright 20 to 30 yards past the runway between two hangars.
Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed the right wing spar bent aft, and all three landing gear collapsed. There was evidence of usable fuel.
A teardown of the engine was accomplished on November 9, 1995. No mechanical anomalies were found that would have resulted in a loss of power. See FAA inspector's statement on the teardown.
According to the FAA inspector, the airplane had a questionable repair to the fuselage and had not been flown for three years. The pilot recently purchased the airplane and had applied for and received a ferry permit for the flight.
Attempts to obtain a completed Pilot Operator Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, were unsuccessful.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N888R
- Reported as
- Grumman American AA-5B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA5B0332
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4K, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gary L. Cromeens
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- HOU · Houston, TX
- Destination
- 1F7 · Dallas, TX
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 3X57 · Skydive Houston
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IAH, 30 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.