Grumman American AA-5A N9642U

Summary

On 7 September 1995 at about 18:45 local time, a Grumman American AA-5A registered N9642U was involved in an accident near Midland, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 September 1995 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Midland, Texas, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Grumman American AA-5A

Registration

N9642U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Provo

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95FA380

2 people died.

the pilot's selection of a downwind runway for takeoff. Factors were the tailwind, the density altitude, and the overloading of the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A recently-certificated private pilot and the passenger/owner of the airplane were en route to Alaska on a 3-week hunting and fishing trip. After topping off at their first fueling stop, the pilot taxied the airplane to runway 29, and held while another airplane landed into the wind on runway 07. The airplane took off on runway 29 with a 18 knot, gusting to 24, tailwind. After a 'long' takeoff roll, as the airplane came within 500 feet of the departure end of the 4,380-foot runway, a 'very steep' angle of climb was established and the airplane cleared the ground. After clearing commercial buildings off the airport, the pilot lost control of the airplane and impacted a single story residence. The winds were reported from 070 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 24. Density altitude was calculated as 5,300 feet. At the time of takeoff, the airplane was calculated to be 118 pounds over its maximum gross weight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.