# NTSB GAA16CA428: Grumman American Avn. AA 5A, N26104, Reno, NV, August 12, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 12, 2016, 12:01 local (19:01 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 40.134723, -119.734169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1347&lon=-119.7342&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93830 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA428 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93830/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93830 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA428 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to see and avoid fence posts during landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02010000): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot; cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02010000/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02010000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while flying over a lake he developed a severe headache and decided to land on a remote dirt area on the northwest side of the lake to rest. He overflew his intended landing site and did not see any obstructions to landing. However, he further reported that close to touch down he noticed fence posts perpendicular to his landing path and applied full power to climb over them, but was unsuccessful. The airplane impacted the posts, which resulted in substantial damage to the 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 pilot reported that while flying over a lake he developed a severe headache and decided to land on a remote dirt area on the northwest side of the lake to rest. He overflew his intended landing site and did not see any obstructions to landing. However, he further reported that close to touch down he noticed fence posts perpendicular to his landing path and applied full power to climb over them, but was unsuccessful. The airplane impacted the posts, which resulted in substantial damage to the 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: [N26104](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26104), registered now, S/N AA5A0402, built 1977 (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: AA5A0402 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 1701.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 2016 - Departed: LHM, LINCOLN, CA - Destination: LHM, LINCOLN, CA - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 16, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 225.8 total, 189.1 in this make and model, 118.5 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 29.7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KRTS, 29 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 20160812023159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160812023159A), Aug 12, 2016: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Was identified as the pilot in command, holder of a private pilot certificate, [privacy data omitted] while operating a Grumman American… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93830. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444766&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 848 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444767&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.