# NTSB MIA85FA106: Grumman American AA-5, N9228L, Horseshoe Beach, FL, February 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 27, 1985, 22:39 local (Feb 28, 1985, 03:39 UTC)
- Place: Horseshoe Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 29.439029, -83.280525 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4390&lon=-83.2805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31232
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85FA106
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31232/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA106

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spiral - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - descent - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE GULF OF MEXICO WHILE THE PLT WAS ON A NIGHT X-COUNTRY FLT. THE WX AT THE DESTINATION HAD BEEN FORCAST TO BE IFR. HOWEVER, IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT, WITNESSES STATED THE WX WAS GOOD WITH NO FOG & IT WAS A DARK NIGHT. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE NEXT DAY AT 1106 EST WHERE THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 3 MI SOUTH OF HORSESHOE BEACH. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT THE ACFT HAD ENTERED A SPIRAL BEFORE CONTACT WAS LOST IN THE VICINITY OF THE CRASH SITE. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED A SLIGHT AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL; HOWEVER, SOME OR ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO PUTREFACTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9228L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9228L-1988-04-06), registration cancelled 1988-04-06, S/N AA50228 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5-0228
- Airframe hours: 1150
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ted N. Denny
- Registered owner: Tom C. Haynie
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MOB, MOBILE, AL
- Destination: TPA, TAMPA, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 644 total, 22 in this make and model, 604 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GNV, 55 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 19850227040689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850227040689A), Feb 27, 1985: Gulstm AA5, Horseshoe Beach, FL, Destroyed. Impacted water and cartwheeled on dar night. VFR pilot was paralleling unpopulated Beach area to IFR destination.

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.

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