# NTSB FTW96LA019: Grumman American AA-5B, N888R, Waller, TX, October 19, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 1995, 14:08 local (19:08 UTC) - Place: Waller, TX - Coordinates: 30.049676, -95.920471 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0497&lon=-95.9205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 22, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19691 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19691/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA019 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N888R-2017-07-12), registration cancelled 2017-07-12, S/N AA5B0332, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5B - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (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: AA5B0332 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19951019047449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951019047449A), Oct 19, 1995: Gulstm AA5B, Waller, TX, Substantial damage. Lost power at cruise. Vectored to airport overshot runway landing struck tree. Stored for three yrs. Ferry permit. 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.