# NTSB MIA05CA064: Grumman American AA-5A, N9572U, Ocala, FL, January 31, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 31, 2005, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Ocala, FL - Coordinates: 29.1725, -82.224166 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1725&lon=-82.2242&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO-15 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61061 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05CA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61061/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA064 ## Probable cause The pilot-rated passengers improper use of the rudder control and his failure to maintain directional control resulting in a loss of control on the ground. ## 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 - rudder - improper use of, pilot passenger (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot passenger - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - sign ## Analysis The private-rated pilot stated he and his pilot-rated passenger flew to Jim Taylor Field to have an avionics upgrade installed. After the installation was complete he flew in the traffic pattern, completing several touch-and-go landings. The pilot-rated passenger's biennial flight review was coming due and wanted to allow him to get some practice during this flight. After touching down on runway 36 the pilot gave control of the airplane to the passenger during the landing roll of the planned go around. When the pilot passenger took control, the airplane began to veer off to the left of the centerline and continued left until it departed the runway and impacted a runway remaining sign. The pilot passenger stated he took control of the airplane during the landing roll with a ground speed of approximately 50 miles per hour. He then added engine power for takeoff and the airplane started to veer to the left. He compensated by added right rudder to correct but the airplane continued to the left. He applied right full rudder yet the airplane exited the runway at approximately 45 degrees from the edge of the runway. The airplane struck the 5,000-foot runway remaining sign before coming to rest in the grass. After the impact, he realized that during the transition of control he placed both feet on the left rudder pedal believing he had his right foot on the right rudder pedal. He and the pilot inspected the airplane and found damage to the engine cowling on the left side, left wing leading edge, left main landing gear and wheel pant, left horizontal stabilizer, and elevator balance faring. The aircraft mechanic who conducted the postaccident inspection of the airplane, stated to the NTSB that he found no mechanical malfunctions or rigging errors that would have prevented the rudder pedals from functioning as designed prior to the accident. He noted that it would be difficult to place both feet on the left rudder pedal as the pilot passenger stated he did. ## Factual narrative On January 31, 2005, at 1250 eastern standard time, a Grumman AA-5A, N9572U, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, veered off the runway during the landing roll of a planned go-around at, Ocala International Airport/Jim Taylor Field, Ocala, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The private-rated pilot and pilot-rated passenger reported no injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Wood and Lakes, Florida, earlier that day, about 1030. The private-rated pilot stated he and his pilot passenger flew to Jim Taylor Field to have an avionics upgrade installed. After the installation was complete he flew in the traffic pattern, completing several touch-and-go landings. The passenger's biennial flight review was coming due and wanted to allow him to get some practice during this flight. After touching down on runway 36 the pilot gave control of the airplane to the passenger during the landing roll of the planned go around. When the pilot passenger took control, the airplane began to veer off to the left of the centerline and continued left until it departed the runway and impacted a runway remaining sign. The pilot-rated passenger stated he took control of the airplane during the landing roll with a ground speed of approximately 50 miles per hour. He then added engine power for takeoff and the airplane started to veer to the left. He compensated by added right rudder to correct but the airplane continued to the left. He applied right full rudder yet the airplane exited the runway at approximately 45 degrees from the edge of the runway. The airplane struck the 5,000-foot runway remaining sign before coming to rest in the grass. After the impact, he realized that during the transition of control he placed both feet on the left rudder pedal believing he had his right foot on the right rudder pedal. He and the pilot inspected the airplane and found damage to the engine cowling on the left side, left wing leading edge, left main landing gear and wheel pant, left horizontal stabilizer, and elevator balance faring. The aircraft mechanic who conducted the postaccident inspection of the airplane, stated to the NTSB that he found no mechanical malfunctions or rigging errors that would have prevented the rudder pedals from functioning as designed prior to the accident. He noted that it would be difficult to place both feet on the left rudder pedal as the pilot passenger stated he did. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9572U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9572U-2022-02-05), registration cancelled 2022-02-05, S/N AA5A-0072, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American 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: AA5-0072U - Airframe hours: 22496 - Engines: Lycoming 0320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James P. Gilbert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2004, 200 hours before - Departed: Ockalawaha, FL - Destination: OCF, Ocala, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: OCF, Ocala International Airport, runway 36, 6,907 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 25, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 3,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days - Other flight crew; age 79; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 20, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 28,800 total, 2 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: GNV ## 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 20050131003369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050131003369A), Jan 31, 2005: Amrgen AA5A, Ocala, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On the go part of the 3rd touch-n-go pilot transferred control of a/c to second pilot. Second pilot had both feet on left rudder pedal. A/c started to… 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.