# NTSB GAA15CA153: Grumman American Avn. AA 5A, N9887U, Mackay, ID, July 1, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 1, 2015, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Mackay, ID - Coordinates: 43.782501, -113.781944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7825&lon=-113.7819&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Boise FSDO (FAA) - NTSB case key (mKey): 91475 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91475/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91475 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA153 ## Probable cause The student pilot's disorientation in mountainous terrain and course deviation into a canyon, which resulted in the airplane's inability to out climb terrain and a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion: geographic disorient (lost)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md) - [Knowledge: transfer of knowledge](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032040): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032040/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032040/cases.md) - [Knowledge: aeronautical knowledge](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032035): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032035/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032035/cases.md) - [Training](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031500): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031500/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Course deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/430/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the second leg of a solo cross country flight, the student pilot reported that he became disoriented in mountainous terrain, and flew down a valley that he thought would lead him to his planned route. After entering the valley, the student pilot did not believe he had sufficient distance laterally to turn around, so he decided to initiate a climb to clear the ridge line in front of him. During the climb he heard the stall warning horn intermittently and realized he could not clear the ridge line ahead. The student pilot made an emergency landing into the rising terrain ahead of him and came to rest in the trees. During a postaccident interview, the student pilot reported that he didn't realize that he lacked the training and understanding for flight into mountainous terrain. The flight instructor who endorsed the student pilot's logbook for this route of flight reported that he should have provided "actual mountain flying training prior to a solo flight over mountainous terrain." The student pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. ## Factual narrative During the second leg of a solo cross country flight, the student pilot reported that he became disoriented in mountainous terrain, and flew down a valley that he thought would lead him to his planned route. After entering the valley, the student pilot did not believe he had sufficient distance laterally to turn around, so he decided to initiate a climb to clear the ridge line in front of him. During the climb he heard the stall warning horn intermittently and realized he could not clear the ridge line ahead. The student pilot made an emergency landing into the rising terrain ahead of him and came to rest in the trees. During a postaccident interview, the student pilot reported that he didn't realize that he lacked the training and understanding for flight into mountainous terrain. The flight instructor who endorsed the student pilot's logbook for this route of flight reported that he should have provided "actual mountain flying training prior to a solo flight over mountainous terrain." The student pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9887U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9887U-2018-06-04), registration cancelled 2018-06-04, S/N AA5A0287 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA 5A (A) - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5A0287 - Year built: 1977 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 2015 - Departed: TWF, TWIN FALLS, ID - Destination: LLJ, CHALLIS, ID - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 26; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 45 total, 43 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KSUN, 27 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 20150701010059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150701010059A), Jul 1, 2015: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A, Mackay, ID, Substantial damage. On required cross country flights the student pilot inadvertently flew into a canyon unknown to him and could not successfully exit due to aircraft performance… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91475. 9.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 9.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430044&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (Student Pilot & Flight Instructor) (item 2, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430045&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Student%20Pilot%20%26%20Flight%20Instructor)-Master.PDF 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.