# NTSB IAD05LA095: Grumman American AA-5, N6061L, Branchville, NJ, July 5, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 2005, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Branchville, NJ - Coordinates: 41.161388, -74.814445 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1614&lon=-74.8144&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61899 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61899/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA095 ## Probable cause An electrical fire of unknown origin. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to perform the In-Flight Electrical Fires checklist. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, cruise - normal - emergency procedure - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - electrical system - fire (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis While in cruise flight over mountains, the pilot smelled a combination of "electrical smoke and fuel." He opened the canopy and at the same time, fire came out from under the instrument panel. He then closed the canopy, and the fire diminished. He did not execute the 'In-Flight Electrical Fires' checklist, and chose to attempt a forced landing on top of a ridge in a state forest. During the landing, the airplane struck trees, and began to leak fuel. Examination of the airplane revealed fire damage in the vicinity of the airplane's battery and the electrical wiring harness that lead from the battery. The engine, engine accessories, and surrounding structure were undamaged by fire. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed approximately 6 months prior to the accident, and as part of the inspection, work was performed on wiring going to the cigar lighter, and the cables for the electric starter. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 2005, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5, N6061L, was destroyed during a forced landing near Branchville, New Jersey. The certificated commercial pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which departed Mountain Bay Airpark (PA49), Hawley, Pennsylvania destined for Lincoln Park Airport (N07), Lincoln Park, New Jersey, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, while in cruise flight over the Appalachian Mountains, the pilot smelled what seemed like a combination of "electrical smoke and fuel." He responded by opening the canopy to vent the cabin, and at the same time, fire came out from under the instrument panel. He subsequently closed the canopy, and the fire appeared to diminish. He did not execute the 'In-Flight Electrical Fires' checklist, and chose to attempt a forced landing on top of Kittatinny Ridge in Stokes State Forest. During the landing, the airplane struck several trees, and began to leak fuel as it penetrated the forest canopy. After the airplane came to rest, the pilot exited the airplane from the right rear passenger window. An FAA inspector examined the 100-yard debris field, and found most major portions of the airplane located in that area. The majority of the airplane's fuselage had been destroyed by fire, with the exception of the outer wing panels, and the nose section forward of the firewall. During a detailed examination of the airplane's firewall area, it was noted that fire damage in the engine compartment was only evident in the area of the airplane's battery and the electrical wiring harness that lead from the battery. The engine, engine accessories, and surrounding structure were undamaged by fire. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on January 18, 2005, and as part of the inspection, work was performed on wiring going to the cigar lighter, and the cables for the electric starter. According to the Grumman American AA-5 'In-Flight Electrical Fire' checklist, the procedure for responding to an in-flight electrical fire was: 1) Master Switch: OFF 2) All electrical switches: OFF 3) Ignition switch: ON 4) Cabin air vents: OFF 5) Proceed to nearest suitable airport for landing ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6061L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6061L-2006-06-16), registration cancelled 2006-06-16, S/N AA5-0161, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-5 - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5) (registry code 3960104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5-0161 - Airframe hours: 3490.86 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Both - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Peter John Horvat - Registered owner: Northcross Properties, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2005 - Departed: PA49, Hawley, PA - Destination: N07, Lincoln Park, NJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 130 in this make and model, 1,950 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: FWN, 11 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 20050705012649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050705012649A), Jul 5, 2005: Amrgen AA5, Sussex, NJ, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot departed mountain bay airport, greentown, PA, enroute to lincoln park, NJ (N07). When he smelled smoke and raw fuel coming from under the radio… 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.