# NTSB GAA16CA083: Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, N9860U, Friendswood, TX, December 17, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 17, 2015, 07:57 local (13:57 UTC) - Place: Friendswood, TX - Coordinates: 29.504722, -95.175277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5047&lon=-95.1753&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92470 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92470/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92470 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA083 ## Probable cause The student pilot's loss of directional control during an aborted landing, which resulted in a collision with a tree and impact with the ground. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: 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) - [Uncontrolled descent: 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 The solo student pilot reported that during the second landing of his flight, the airplane bounced twice and veered left. He reported that as the airplane was about to exit the left side of the runway, he applied full power to abort the landing. The student pilot reported that the airplane collided with a tree 60 feet above the ground on the left side of runway, spun around 270 degrees in the air and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that during the second landing of his flight, the airplane bounced twice and veered left. He reported that as the airplane was about to exit the left side of the runway, he applied full power to abort the landing. The student pilot reported that the airplane collided with a tree 60 feet above the ground on the left side of runway, spun around 270 degrees in the air and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9860U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9860U-2019-05-06), registration cancelled 2019-05-06, S/N AA5A0260, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5A - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5A0260 - Year built: 1976 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 7XS0, Friendswood, TX - Destination: 7XS0, Friendswood, TX - Airport: 7XS0, Polly Ranch, runway 29, 2,700 × 22 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 45; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 23 total, 14 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KLVJ, 4 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 20151217019509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151217019509A), Dec 17, 2015: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A, Friendswood, TX, Substantial damage. Student pilot completing solo take-off and landings stated that he thought he flared too high and then bounced the aircraft near or on the runway threshold and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 28, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92470. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 979 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.