Casualties unknown

1982-04-16: Grum Amer AA-5B (N28867) — Robert W. Beard — Placerville, CA

Placerville, CA, US

On April 16, 1982, a Grum Amer AA-5B (registration N28867) operated by Robert W. Beard was involved in an aviation accident near Placerville, CA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot arriving to find two inches of snow on the aircraft removed it, but sparse snow grains remained on wings during takeoff. Slushy runway caused slower acceleration, hydroplaning, and inability to stop, resulting in the aircraft going off the runway into a pond.

Snow Removal and Preflight

The pilot arrived at the airport to find the top surfaces of the aircraft covered with approximately two inches of snow. He stated that his preflight included a complete removal of the snow.

Takeoff Roll

During the takeoff roll, the pilot observed a layer of snow grains, one-grain thick, sparsely covering the wing area. The takeoff was initiated on a runway covered with one-quarter to one-half inch of slush. The pilot noted that acceleration was slower than normal and that the snow grains remained on the wings.

Rotation and Abort

The pilot rotated the aircraft at 65 knots, but the plane did not lift off at the normal speed. Deciding to abort the takeoff, he attempted to stop but was unable to do so on the remaining runway. He stated that the wheels were hydroplaning.

Runway Departure

The plane momentarily left the ground as it continued over a drop-off at the end of the runway. The nose strut collapsed when the aircraft touched down in muddy terrain approximately 20 feet from a pond. The plane continued into the pond and came to rest in shallow water.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020917X02198. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.