# NTSB MKC85LA204: Grumman AA5, N16LB, Boone, IA, September 2, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1985, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Boone, IA
- Coordinates: 42.050094, -93.869033 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0501&lon=-93.8690&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34023
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC85LA204
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34023/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC85LA204

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - proper descent rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - level off - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

AFTER DEPARTING LAPORTE CITY AIRPORT THE PLT OF THE ACFT PROCEEDED TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT DESPITE DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THIS DESTINATION.  THE PLT STATED HE SHOULD NOT HAVE PROCEEDED INTO POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE AIRPORT AS REPORTED BY THE AIRPORT MANAGER WERE VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE IN FOG. AT THE TIME HE HEARED AND SAW THE ACFT. HE ALSO OBSERVED THE ACFT BANKED NEAR VERTICAL AS THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LANDING TO THE AIRPORT RUNWAY.  THE ACFT WAS THEN OBSERVED DESCENDING UNTIL IMPACTING THE GROUND.  THE PLT STATED HE DIDN'T REALIZE HE HAD STALLED THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16LB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16LB-1989-03-06), registration cancelled 1989-03-06, S/N AA5B0988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA5
- Registry model: [Gulfstream American AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-aa-5b) (registry code 3970106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: A5B-0988
- Airframe hours: 361
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lyle L. Blair
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1985, 49 hours before
- Departed: 6C8, LAPORTE CITY, IA
- Destination: BNW, BOONE, IA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 375 total, 327 in this make and model, 345 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DSM, 30 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 19850902064129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850902064129A), Sep 2, 1985: Gulstm AA5, Boone, IA, Destroyed. Descended from clouds in near vertical bank, stalled at low altitude and struck ground. Pilot not IFR rated.

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.
