# NTSB NYC89LA008: American AA-5B, N666GA, Wrightstown, NJ, October 9, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 9, 1988, 09:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place: Wrightstown, NJ
- Location: 40.0158° N, 74.5907° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MC GUIRE FLD (JOINT BASE MC GUIRE DIX LAKEHURST) (WRI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0158&lon=-74.5907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36319
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36319/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA008

## Sequence of events

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

- Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - starting engine(s)
  - starting procedure - improper, passenger (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, passenger (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT SAID THAT THE BATTERY RAN LOW WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO START HIS ACFT. HE SAID HE HAND-PROPPED THE ENG FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND WHEN HE BECAME FATIGUED, THE PASSENGER, WHO IS ALSO A PILOT, BEGAN TO HAND PROP THE ENG. WHEN THE PASSENGER TURNED THE PROP TO POSITION IT HORIZONTALLY, THE ENG FIRED AND THE PROP STRUCK THE PASSENGER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N666GA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N666GA), registered now, S/N AA5B1136, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN AA-5B
- Registry model: [Gulfstream American AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-aa-5b) (registry code 3970106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B-1136
- Airframe hours: 1995
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Waldo S.Steen
- Registered owner: Waldo S. Steen
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 1988, 50 hours before
- Departed: WRI
- Destination: WRI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: WRI, Mcguire Afb

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 341 total, 25 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F

## 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 19881009045989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881009045989A), Oct 9, 1988: Gulstm AA5B, Wrightstown, NJ. Became fatigued trying to hand start engine due low battery. Allowed passenger to try. Engine started. Hit by prop.

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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