# NTSB GAA19CA384: American AA5, N387G, Cheyenne, WY, July 2, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 1, 2019, 21:00 local (Jul 2, 2019, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Cheyenne, WY - Coordinates: 41.154998, -104.795555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1550&lon=-104.7956&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99764 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA384 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99764/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99764 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA384 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate and landing flare during landing with a tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing and a subsequent loss of directional control, runway excursion, and collision with objects. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): 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/01062037/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: 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) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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: 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 pilot reported that, while en route, she diverted due to deteriorating weather at the intended destination. She added that, during landing, a second pilot in the right seat reported a right quartering crosswind and that, during the "transition to the roundout," she observed 65 knots on the airspeed gauge, she heard the stall warning horn, and the airplane developed a high sink rate. She attempted to go around, but the airplane landed hard and veered left. The airplane became airborne again, and the pilot attempted to regain the runway centerline, but the fuselage and wing struck objects on the left side of the runway. She decided a go-around was not possible, so she reduced power and landed the airplane in grass left of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station located about 3 miles west of the airport reported that, about 2 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 020° at 8 knots and that, about 32 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 020° at 9 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 27. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, while en route, she diverted due to deteriorating weather at the intended destination. She added that, during landing, a second pilot in the right seat reported a right quartering crosswind. During the "transition to the roundout," she observed 65 knots on the airspeed gauge, she heard the stall warning horn, and the airplane developed a high sink rate. She attempted to go around, but the airplane landed hard and veered to the left. The airplane became airborne again, the pilot attempted to regain runway centerline, but the fuselage and wing struck objects on the left side of the runway. She decided a go around was not possible, so she reduced power and landed the airplane in the grass to the left of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station, located about 3 miles west of the airport, reported that, about 2 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 020° at 8 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, broken clouds at 7,500 ft, temperature 15°C, dew point 12°C, altimeter 30.24" Hg. The same automated station reported that, about 32 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 020° at 9 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, broken clouds at 2,100 ft, temperature 14°C, dew point 11°C, altimeter 30.25" Hg, remarks stated lightning distant northeast-east with clouds broken variable few. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 27. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N387G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N387G-2020-01-03), registration cancelled 2020-01-03, S/N AA5A0387, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Aviation AA5 (A) - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-E2G](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-e2g) (registry code 42125, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5A0387 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 4245.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Western Air Flight Academy - Registered owner: Thunderfighter Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 9, 2018 - Departed: CPR, Casper, WY - Destination: BJC, Denver, CO - Airport: CYS, Cheyenne Rgnl/Jerry Olson Fiel, runway 27, 9,270 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial, private, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 3, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 965.9 total, 56.9 in this make and model, 486.5 as pilot in command, 59.5 in the last 90 days, 50.2 in the last 30 days, 1.6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private, military, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 1,637 total, 130 in this make and model, 1,010 as pilot in command, 195 in the last 90 days, 121 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 20° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KFEW, 3 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 20190701008769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190701008769A), Jul 1, 2019: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A, Cheyenne, WY, Substantial damage. On Monday, July 01, 2019, N387G, a Grumman AA-5A cheetah, operated by a commercial rated pilot with a commercial rated pilot as a passenger, was en route to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99764. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475556&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475557&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475558&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.