# NTSB SEA93LA147: Grumman AA-5, N1379R, Heber City, UT, July 2, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 1993, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Heber City, UT - Coordinates: 40.430706, -111.189163 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4307&lon=-111.1892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41727 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41727/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA147 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE GO-AROUND. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS. ## Analysis DURING FLIGHT, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED LIGHT TURBULENCE AND NOTICED LIGHTNING ON HIS INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. HE DIVERTED TO HEBER CITY TO AVOID WEATHER. ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED SEVERE WINDSHEAR AND A CROSSWIND AT ABOUT 75 FEET AGL. THE PILOT INITIATED A GO-AROUND, BUT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO SETTLE. IT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND BOUNCED BACK IN THE AIR. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE GO-AROUND, BUT THE AIRPLANE YAWED AND DRIFTED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, A WING TIP STRUCK A FENCE POST, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN AND WAS DAMAGED. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 1993, at approximately 1715 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Grumman AA5, N1379R, touched down short of the runway, and impacted the terrain during an attempted go-around at Heber Valley Airport, Heber City, Utah. The FAA certificated private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, at about 1500 MDT, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The aircraft was not on a filed flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT activation. The pilot, who had diverted into Heber Valley Airport after encountering thunderstorms and lightning along his intended route, said that he encountered strong crosswinds and "severe wind shear" while at about 75 feet AGL on short final. He therefore initiated a go-around, but the aircraft was forced toward the ground and made contact with the terrain short of the runway. It then bounced back into the air in a nose high, right yaw attitude. As the pilot was attempting to recover in order to continue his go-around, the aircraft drifted off to the side of the runway, collided with a fence post, and impacted the terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - performed, pilot in command - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor) - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - go-around - initiated, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - object - fence post - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1379R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1379R-2012-06-14), registration cancelled 2012-06-14, S/N AA5-0779, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-5 - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5) (registry code 3960104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5-0779 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sky'S The Limit - Departed: SGU, SAINT GEORGE, UT - Destination: EVW, EVANSTON, WY - Airport: 36U, Heber Valley Airport, runway 21, 6,900 × 75 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 207 total, 108 in this make and model, 120 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 20 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 19930702021929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930702021929A), Jul 2, 1993: Gulstm AA5, Heber, UT, Substantial damage. Severe turbulence on final. Began go around and impacted short of runway. Lost control. Struck fence post side runway. 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.