# NTSB SEA79FTA18: Grum Amer AA-5, N5880L, Laurel, MT, August 23, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 23, 1979
- Place: Laurel, MT · LAUREL, MT
- Location: 45.6740° N, 108.7783° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Laurel, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6740&lon=-108.7783&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135094
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA79FTA18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FTA18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1590  79/8/23    LAUREL,MT           GRUM AMER AA-5      CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 18, 154
        TIME - 1400                    N5880L              PX-  0  0  0  TEST                      TOTAL HOURS, 39 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAUREL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAUREL,MT                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          TAKEOFF: ABORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED ACTION IN ABORTING TAKEOFF
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - RAN OFF END OF RUNWAY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     CALM
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           85                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- RWY UPSLOPE. DENSITY ALT 5700FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5880L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5880L-2023-01-14), registration cancelled 2023-01-14, S/N AA5-0080, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUM AMER AA-5
- Registry model: [American AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-5) (registry code 0631410) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Laurel

## 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 19790823020049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790823020049A), Aug 23, 1979: Gulstm AA5, Laurel, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot aborted after liftoff. Aircraft ran off end of runway through fence. Pilot misjudged aircraft's performance.

## Other investigations on N5880L (1)

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.

- [NTSB ERA21LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA106), Jan 19, 2021: American AA5 (N5880L), Leesburg, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The weakened structure of the left horizontal stabilizer, which resulted in elevator flutter and subsequent partial separation of the left elevator in flight. Contributing to the accident were 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.

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