Grumman AA-5A N7103L

Summary

On 14 October 1990 at about 23:50 local time, a Grumman AA-5A registered N7103L, operated by Adkins, David, was involved in an accident near Lexington, North Carolina, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 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.

Date

14 October 1990 at 23:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Lexington, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Lexington Muni (EXX)

Coordinates

35.8008, -80.2503

Aircraft

Grumman AA-5A

Registration

N7103L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Adkins, David

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salisbury → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL91LA003

2 people were seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ESTABLISH AN APPROACH PROFILE WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED HIM TO MAKE A SAFE LANDING ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED THROUGHOUT THE APPROACH. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE COLLISION WITH THE RAILROAD BERM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING A FULL-STOP LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND LANDING ATTEMPT. ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, HE WAS TOO HIGH AND FAST FOR A SAFE LANDING. DURING THE NEXT APPROACH THE CARBURETOR HEAT LEVER WAS PLACED IN THE ON POSITION FOR THE LANDING. WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE WAS AGAIN TOO HIGH AND FAST, HE ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND. BUT THERE WAS NOT AN INSTANT POWER RESPONSE WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED. THE PILOT DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE LANDING ATTEMPT. THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 8 AND COLLIDED WITH A RAILROAD EMBANKMENT; THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS REPORTED. .

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.