# NTSB SEA79FA048: Grum Amer AA-5A, N9966U, Augusta, MT, July 24, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 24, 1979
- Place: Augusta, MT · AUGUSTA, MT
- Location: 47.4893° N, 112.3922° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Augusta, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4893&lon=-112.3922&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 4, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135211
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA79FA048
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FA048

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1839  79/7/24  NR.AUGUSTA,MT         GRUM AMER AA-5A     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 207
        TIME - 1430                    N9966U              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 40 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BENCHMARK (USFS)
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         AUGUSTA,MT                  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO ABORT TAKEOFF
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                   UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      65
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          140                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ACFT USED ENTIRE RUNWAY,LIFTED OFF NOSE HIGH,FAILED TO CLEAR TREES AT END.D/A APPROX 7000FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9966U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9966U-2009-07-22), registration cancelled 2009-07-22, S/N AA5A0366 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUM AMER AA-5A
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Benchmark (Usfs)

## 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 19790724020309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790724020309A), Jul 24, 1979: Gulstm AA5A, Augusta, MT, Destroyed. Made takeoff at high density altitude & gross wt maximum or higher. Unable to climb. Hit trees.

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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