Grumman AA5 N9582L

Summary

On 18 March 2016 at about 13:07 local time, a Grumman AA5 registered N9582L was involved in an accident near Longview, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 March 2016 at 13:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Longview, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

East Side (3TS0)

Coordinates

32.5050, -94.6983

Aircraft

Grumman AA5

Registration

N9582L

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Longview → Longview

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA128

1 person was seriously injured.

The noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to depart into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noninstrument-rated private pilot departed on a local flight in instrument meteorological conditions. A witness saw the airplane enter low overcast clouds immediately after takeoff. He heard the airplane begin a left turn, then saw the airplane emerge from the base of the overcast in a nose-down, steep left bank. The airplane subsequently reentered the clouds and the witness heard the impact a few minutes later. Evidence at the scene indicated that the airplane struck 40-ft tall trees and terrain, coming to rest inverted about 75 ft from the initial impact point. An examination of the airplane and its systems revealed no anomalies. Given that the pilot was not instrument-rated, it is likely that he experienced a loss of control of the airplane after entering instrument conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.