Grumman American Avn AA-5B N74400

Summary

On 26 November 2010 at about 23:15 local time, a Grumman American Avn AA-5B registered N74400, operated by Anna Longwell, was involved in an accident near Coalinga, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 November 2010 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Coalinga, California, United States

Nearest airport

Harris Ranch (3O8)

Coordinates

36.1397, -120.3603

Aircraft

Grumman American Avn AA-5B

Registration

N74400

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Anna Longwell

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Coalinga → Palo Alto

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11CA066

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to remove the gust lock prior to takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, she did not perform a flight control check prior to takeoff. During the departure roll, when the airplane reached 70 miles per hour, she realized that the gust lock was still installed in the control column. She attempted to remove the device, but was unsuccessful. She reduced the engine power in an attempt to stop the airplane, but it continued off the end of the runway; the nose gear separated, and it came to rest in a dirt field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and right wing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.