# NTSB WPR21LA260: Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, N28643, Wells, NV, July 5, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 5, 2021, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Wells, NV · Airport environment
- Coordinates: 41.117111, -114.92213
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1171&lon=-114.9221&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103426
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA260
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103426/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103426
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA260

## Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to takeoff with a tailwind, which resulted in an impact with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, after an aborted takeoff, he taxied to the end of the runway and turned around for departure even though the windsock still favored a takeoff from the opposite runway. The pilot decided he had enough runway and initiated a takeoff. The airplane lifted off and was out of ground effect when the pilot felt that there might have been a tailwind gust as the airplane lost airspeed and subsequently impacted the terrain just north of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28643](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28643-2022-08-27), registration cancelled 2022-08-27, S/N AA5B0720, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. 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: AA5B0720
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 3756
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2020
- Destination: IGM, Kingman, AZ
- Airport: LWL, Wells Muni/Harriet Fld, runway 08/26, 5,508 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review June 17, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 886 total, 299.9 in this make and model, 820.6 as pilot in command, 37.9 in the last 90 days, 14.6 in the last 30 days, 3.4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: KEKO, 43 nm away
- METAR: METAR KEKO 051756Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 30/06 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP152 T03000056 10300 20117 58005=

## 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 20210705012639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210705012639A), Jul 5, 2021: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5B, Wells, NV, Substantial damage. The pilot had planned to taxi back to the arrival end of the duty runway, but his passenger expressed displeasure at the thought of taxiing in a latched,…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103426. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12977561&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA interview with pilot (FAA) (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12977382&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RoC%20Pilot%20(FAA)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 755 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12977463&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf

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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