American AA5-B N45278
24 May 1989 · Valentine, Nebraska, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 24 May 1989 at about 00:15 local time, a American AA5-B registered N45278 was involved in an accident near Valentine, Nebraska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Valentine, Nebraska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Merritt Dam (5NE7)
- Coordinates
- 42.8698, -100.5498
- Aircraft
- American AA5-B
- Registration
- N45278
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Norfolk → Valentine
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MKC89LA113
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT DELAYED INITIATING A GO-AROUND AFTER NOT ATTAINING A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE TREES OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A 1500 FOOT SOD STRIP DURING HIGH TEMPERATURE AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS, THE PLT SAID HE WAS UNHAPPY WITH HIS FIRST ATTEMPT TO LAND AND ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES, TEARING OFF THE LEFT WING, THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN INVERTED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other American AA5 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 1987 | American AA5 | Flint, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 1996 | American AA5 | Crestview, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 2019 | American AA5 | Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States | Western Air Flight Academy | No injuries | - |
| 27 Sep 2019 | American AA5 | Cowles, New Mexico, United States | Western Air Flight Academy | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Dec 2019 | American AA5 | College Park, Maryland, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 5 Jan 2020 | American AA5 | Rutherfordton, North Carolina, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Oct 1989 | Cessna 320 | Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 17 Dec 1989 | Piper J3C-65 | Lynch, Nebraska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Oct 1989 | Cessna 172 | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | Trew Aero, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Apr 1989 | Schmahl VOLKSPLANE VP-1 | Papillion, Nebraska, United States | Schmahl, Edward F. | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Jul 1989 | Cessna A-188B | Hay Springs, Nebraska, United States | Kirk Budd | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Dec 1989 | Piper PA-32-301 | Norfolk, Nebraska, United States | - | No injuries | - |