# NTSB NYC89LA210: Grumman AA-5B, N4554L, South Harpswell, ME, September 4, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1989, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: South Harpswell, ME
- Location: 43.7787° N, 70.0131° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FARR FLD (ME33), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7787&lon=-70.0131&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36475
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA210
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36475/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA210

## Probable cause

A DELAY BY THE PILOT IN ABORTING A LATE GO-AROUND.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE FOR LANDING, HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE SUBSEQUENT BOUNCED LANDING, AND TREE(S) NEAR THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - abort - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING A LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED A FEW TIMES, THEN HE ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY. HE STATED THAT AFTER THE ACFT HAD CONTINUED ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY, HE SAW THAT IT 'WAS NOT REACTING TO THE GO-AROUND AS NEEDED.'  THEREFORE, HE 'CUT (THE) POWER, GOT (THE) AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND & STEERED TO THE OVERRUN.'   SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT HIT A TREE & CROSSED A ROADWAY BEFORE STOPPING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4554L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4554L-1991-10-08), registration cancelled 1991-10-08, S/N AA5B1211 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-5B
- Registry model: [Gulfstream American AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-aa-5b) (registry code 3970106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B-1211
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Star Aviation
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ME33
- Airport: ME33, Farr Field, runway 13, 2,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 203 total, 15 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19890904035229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890904035229A), Sep 4, 1989: Gulstm AA5, So Harpswell, ME, Substantial damage. Overran the runway on landing and struck a tree.

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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