# NTSB LAX06LA073: Grumman AA-5, N5435L, Boulder City, NV, December 30, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 30, 2005, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Boulder City, NV - Coordinates: 35.947498, -114.861114 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9475&lon=-114.8611&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63024 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63024/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06LA073 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and failure to follow the airplane's checklist, which resulted in his failure to remove the gust lock prior to flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not complied with, pilot in command (cause) - removal of control/gust lock(s) - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane veered off the runway into terrain as it was lifting off. The pilot completed a preflight through the "ready to taxi" checklist. As he taxied out, he watched a large sea plane take off, and then a Cessna departed ahead of him. He attempted to rotate at 60 mph during the ground roll, but was unable to raise the nose. He then discovered that he had forgotten to remove the flight control's gust lock prior to takeoff. He noted that he had a portable GPS mounted to the yoke, which obstructed his view of the gust lock and access to it. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, and sustained damage when it encountered terrain. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 2005, about 1300 Pacific standard time, a Grumman AA-5, N5435L, veered off the runway and collided with terrain during takeoff at Boulder City, Nevada. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane as a local personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he completed a preflight through the "ready to taxi" checklist. As he taxied out, he watched a large sea plane take off, and then a Cessna departed ahead of him. He attempted to rotate at 60 mph, but was unable to raise the nose. He then discovered that he had forgotten to remove the flight control's gust lock prior to takeoff. He noted that he had a portable GPS mounted to the yoke, which obstructed his view of the gust lock and access to it. He could not recall a previous occasion in his 26 years of flying this airplane where he did not follow the airplane's checklist. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, and sustained damage when it encountered terrain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5435L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5435L-2013-05-10), registration cancelled 2013-05-10, S/N AA5-0335, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman 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: AA5-0335 - Airframe hours: 4385 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William E. Huff - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2005, 24 hours before - Departed: 61B, Boulder City, NV - Airport: 61B, Boulder City Municipal, runway 27L, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,082 total, 1,082 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: HND, 13 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 20051230029429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051230029429A), Dec 30, 2005: Amrgen AA5, Boulder City, NV, Destroyed. (-23) PIC of N5435L attempted to depart runway 27L at the Boulder City airport (61B), failing to remove the flight control gust lock from the yoke control… 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.