# NTSB NYC04LA158: Grumman American AA-1, N5903L, Batavia, OH, July 6, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2004, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Batavia, OH - Coordinates: 39.078334, -84.209999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0783&lon=-84.2100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Cincinnati FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59568 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59568/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA158 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation which failed to assure the takeoff performance needed to out climb obstacles. Factors in this accident were the up sloping runway, the high density altitude, and airplane being loaded above it's maximum gross weight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor) - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger were departing from runway 22, a 3,568-foot-long, asphalt runway. The airplane stopped climbing after reaching an altitude of about 30 feet, and the pilot then realized that he would not clear trees located at the end of a soybean field, beyond the runway. The pilot attempted to land in the soybean field, however, the airplane flipped over. Witnesses reported that the airplane did not become airborne until the last third of the runway. The airplane's nose was pitched up higher than usual, and the airplane cleared the airport boundary fence by only 5 to 10 feet. The airplane was equipped with a 108-horsepower engine. A weight and balance calculation performed after the accident revealed that the airplane was about 100 pounds above it's maximum gross takeoff weight. In addition, the runway sloped upward, approximately 30 feet, between the respective touchdown zones of runways 22 and 4. The weather reported at an airport about 10 miles west of the accident site, included calm winds, and a temperature and dew point of 86 and 68 degrees F, respectively; which corresponded with a density altitude of about 3,000 feet. The pilot reported that the airplane's outside air temperature gauge indicated 33.1 degrees C (91 degrees F). ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2004, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-1, N5903L, was substantially damaged during takeoff from the Clermont County Airport, Batavia, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was attempting his second takeoff from runway 22, a 3,568-foot-long, asphalt runway. He reported that the airplane's short field takeoff speed was 80 mph. During the pilot's first takeoff attempt, the canopy was open, and he aborted the takeoff past mid-field, after reaching a speed of 73 mph. During the second takeoff attempt, with the canopy closed, the airplane accelerated to 80 mph and began to climb. The airplane stopped climbing after reaching an altitude of about 30 feet, and the pilot then realized that he would not clear trees located at the end of a soybean field, beyond the runway. The pilot attempted to land in the soybean field, however, the airplane flipped over. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, witnesses reported that the airplane did not become airborne until the last third of the runway. The airplane's nose was pitched up higher than usual, and the airplane cleared the airport boundary fence by only 5 to 10 feet. The airplane was equipped with a 108-horsepower, Lycoming O-235 series engine. A weight and balance calculation performed after the accident, by the pilot and an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane was about 100 pounds above it's maximum gross takeoff weight. In addition, the runway sloped upward, approximately 30 feet, between the respective touchdown zones of runways 22 and 4. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He reported 345 hours of total flight experience, which included 75 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The weather reported at an airport about 10 miles west of the accident site, at 1453, included calm winds, and a temperature and dew point of 86 and 68 degrees F, respectively; which corresponded with a density altitude of about 3,000 feet at the accident site. The pilot reported that the airplane's outside air temperature gauge indicated 33.1 degrees C (91 degrees F). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5903L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5903L-2006-04-06), registration cancelled 2006-04-06, S/N AA1-0203, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-1 - Registry model: [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (registry code 0630610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 203 - Airframe hours: 2500 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kyle W. Webb - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 19, 2003, 29 hours before - Departed: I69, Batavia, OH - Destination: I69, Batavia, OH - Airport: I69, Clermont County, runway 22, 3,568 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 12, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 345 total, 75 in this make and model, 230 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: LUK, 10 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 20040706019449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040706019449A), Jul 6, 2004: Amrgen AA1, Batavia, OH, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot attempted another takeoff after aborting his first attempt on runway 22 which is 3600' long with 8 degree upslope. The surface wind was less… 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.