Grumman American AA-5A N9958U
23 February 1988 · Martinsville, Indiana, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 23 February 1988 at about 21:31 local time, a Grumman American AA-5A registered N9958U, operated by Lutz G. MacHon, was involved in an accident near Martinsville, Indiana, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 21:31
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Martinsville, Indiana, United States
- Nearest airport
- Private
- Coordinates
- 39.4200, -86.4195
- Aircraft
- Grumman American AA-5A
- Registration
- N9958U
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Lutz G. MacHon
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Indianapolis
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI88FA067
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
PILOT TO TAKE INTO CAONSIDERATION THE WIND DIRECTION AND VELOCITY BEFORE SELECTING HIS TAKEOFF DIRECTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PLT BEGAN A DEPARTURE BY TAKING OFF TO THE EAST , DOWNWIND, ON A 2000' UPSLOPING RWY. THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO CLEAR TREES & POWERLINES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. IT THEN DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED, AND WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT & FIRE. ABOUT 20 MI EAST-NORTHEAST, AT INDIANAPOLIS, THE 1553 EST WIND WAS FROM 310 DEG AT 16 GUSTING 22 KTS. THE PLT'S LAST MEDICAL APPLICATION WAS DATED 10/3/87, BUT A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DENIED DUE TO A CARDIO-VASCULAR PROBLEM.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Grumman American AA-5A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 1987 | Grumman American AA-5A | Marietta, Oklahoma, United States | Sycam Corporation | No injuries | - |
| 7 Feb 1987 | Grumman American AA-5A | Beverly, Massachusetts, United States | Bryan Kendall | No injuries | - |
| 6 Mar 1987 | Grumman American AA-5A | Tucson, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 16 Sep 1987 | Grumman American AA-5A | Corpus Christi, Texas, United States | Robert Whitlock | Fatal | 4 |
| 25 Oct 1985 | Grumman American AA-5A | Flagstaff, Arizona, United States | Mark Dewey Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 17 May 1985 | Grumman American AA-5A | Orlando, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan 1988 | Cessna 172K | Converse, Indiana, United States | Quinn, Schafer, Ferris | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 1988 | Cessna 310Q | Tell City, Indiana, United States | Morgan Aviation | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1988 | Piper PA-28-181 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | Chas. W. Beene | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 1988 | Mooney M20A | La Porte, Indiana, United States | Davair, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Oct 1988 | Piper PA-24-250 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | Graves, Dorel | No injuries | - |
| 14 Feb 1988 | Cessna 172 | Ft. Wayne, Indiana, United States | Bowman Aviation Inc | No injuries | - |