Grumman American AA-5B N28299

Summary

On 12 July 1998 at about 17:30 local time, a Grumman American AA-5B registered N28299, operated by Hall, Robert, C., was involved in an accident near Chico Hot Sprgs, Montana, United States. 4 people were on board and one 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

12 July 1998 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Chico Hot Sprgs, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Chico Hot Springs

Coordinates

45.3108, -110.7609

Aircraft

Grumman American AA-5B

Registration

N28299

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hall, Robert, C.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Bozeman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA98LA132

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot-in-command's selection of the wrong runway for takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident were high density altitude, rising terrain and a fence post.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot-in-command was briefed by the hotel operations manager that takeoffs to the south were 'not normally allowed,' but the pilot elected to depart to the south due to wind conditions. The manager then insured that the roadway serving as runway 14/32 was properly blocked off and manned. During the left turning crosswind climbout, the aircraft's left wing struck a fence. The aircraft then impacted terrain and came to rest. Terrain to the south and east was upsloping and higher than the takeoff runway elevation. The high elevation of the airstrip (5,280 feet) coupled with the warm ambient air temperature, created a high (7,784 foot) density altitude condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.