# NTSB SEA08LA066: Grumman American AA-5A, N9592U, Benson, AZ, November 11, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 11, 2007, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Benson, AZ - Coordinates: 31.999721, -110.35778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9997&lon=-110.3578&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67421 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67421/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA066 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall. Contributing to the accident was a variable tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The pilot flew over the airport to check the wind, and determined the wind was out of the west. He flew a traffic pattern for runway 28. On final approach, he extended full flaps, and said he established an airspeed of 75 mph. Approximately 20 feet above the runway, the stall horn came on, and the airspeed had dropped to 60 mph. He added power, but the airplane drifted to the left, and landed off the runway in rough terrain. The pilot said the landing was hard, and the airplane bounced and skidded to a stop. The airplane's nose and left main landing gear were separated from the fuselage, and the surfaces of both wings were wrinkled. A witness at the airport said that the airplane's final approach to runway 28 was unusually low, flat and very fast. Additionally, he said the wind appeared to be from 140 to 150 degrees at approximately 8 knots and gusting to 13 knots. The pilot said that after he got out of the airplane he noticed that the wind was from the east, and a short time later the windsock had shifted back to a westerly direction again. ## Factual narrative On November 11, 2007, approximately 1230 mountain standard time, a Grumman American AA-5A, N9592U, was substantially damaged when it landed hard and impacted irregular terrain at Benson Municipal Airport (E95), Benson, Arizona. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. Valley Aircraft Restoration Society was operating the airplane under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal, cross-country flight, which originated from Chandler, Arizona, about 1 hour 20 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that he flew over the runway to check the wind conditions by looking at the windsock. It appeared to him that the wind was out of the west, and he decided to land on runway 28. On final approach, he extended full flaps and noted that the airspeed was at 75 miles per hour. Approximately 20 feet above the runway, the stall horn came on and the airspeed had dropped to 60 miles per hour. He added power, but the airplane drifted to the left and landed off the runway in rough terrain. The pilot said the landing was hard, and the airplane bounced and skidded to a stop. The airplane's nose and left main landing gear were separated from the fuselage and the surfaces of both wings were wrinkled. A witness at the airport said that the airplane's final approach to runway 28 was unusually low, flat and very fast. Additionally, he said the wind appeared to be from 140 to 150 degrees at approximately 8 knots and gusting to 13 knots. The pilot said that after he got out of the airplane he noticed that the wind was from the east and a short time later the windsock had shifted back to a westerly direction again. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9592U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9592U), registered now, S/N AA5A-0092, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-5A - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5A-0092 - Airframe hours: 1737 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Valley Aircraft Restoration Society - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2007, 2 hours before - Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Destination: E95, Benson, AZ - Airport: E95, Benson Municipal Airport, runway 28, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 127 total, 35 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: FHU, 24 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 20071111831449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071111831449A), Nov 11, 2007: Amrgen AA5A, Benson, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated he departed ffz with wife and 2 children on 11/11/07 for E95 (Benson, AZ). Benson airport has runway 10/28. At Benson they were experiencing… 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.