# NTSB NYC98LA183: Grumman American AA-5B, N28764, Chatham, MA, September 5, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 1998, 12:21 local (16:21 UTC) - Place: Chatham, MA - Location: 41.6883° N, 69.9897° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHATHAM MUNI (CQX), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6883&lon=-69.9897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43949 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43949/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA183 ## Probable cause the failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed during a go-around and which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Factors in the accident were the pilot's lack of total experience and the gusting crosswinds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The pilot performed an approach to runway 24 with gusty crosswinds from the right. The airplane floated and he performed a go-around. The pilot had not retracted the flaps which were set at 2/3. A witness observed the airplane on a go-around and reported that the left wing dropped and the airplane descended into the trees. The pilot had received his private pilot certificated one month prior. His total time was 75 hours. All of his flight training was accomplished in a Cessna 172, and he had 12 hours in the accident airplane, a Grumman American AA-5B. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 1998, about 1221 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5B, N28764, was substantially damaged during a go-around at Chatham Municipal Airport, Chatham, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated at Chatham, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report. The pilot stated: "Accident occurred on landing runway 24. Approach stable (crabbed). Final approach speed 70 kts. Experienced ground effect, perhaps wind shifted to tailwind. Attempted go around - full power. Had not yet raised flaps (set to 2/3). Gust (crosswind - 300 degrees) of unknown speed (Winds apparently recorded at accident site - in sheltered hollow in excess of 20 mph) Lost control of aircraft which was blown into trees to left of runway...Pulled back power before impact...." According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot had been practicing takeoffs and landings on runway 24. On the accident approach, the pilot had extended the landing flaps to 2/3 extension, and the airplane floated. The pilot applied power for a go-around and the airplane drifted left off the runway. While over trees, the left wing dropped and made contact with tree limbs. The airplane cartwheeled and came to rest in an area of scrub pines. The FAA inspector further added that the left wing was buckled and bent rearward into the fuselage, and the left aileron was ripped off. The left flap was partially separated from the wing. The right wing was buckled on the outboard 6 feet. The winds at Chatham were recorded as from 280 degrees at 11 knots, with gusts to 22 knots at 1152, and from 270 degrees at 9 knots with gusts to 17 knots at 1252. According to FAA records, the pilot had received his private pilot certificate on August 4, 1998, at a total time of 69 hours. All training had been received in the Cessna 172. The pilot had recently purchased the accident airplane and had logged 12 hours in the airplane, all within the preceding 90 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28764](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28764-2017-07-03), registration cancelled 2017-07-03, S/N AA5B0797, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-5B - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (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: 115B--797 - Airframe hours: 2230 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gordon T. Walker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 12, 1997, 40 hours before - Departed: CQX - Airport: CQX, Chatham Muni Airport, runway 24, 3,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 75 total, 12 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 11 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CQX ## 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 19980905022729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980905022729A), Sep 5, 1998: Amrgen AA5B, Chatham, MA, Substantial damage. Acft crashed on final approach to rwy 24 due to an engine stall, the acft landed on trees. (-23) gordon t. walker, pilot-in-command of N28764 was in the… 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.