History of Flight
On October 6, 2010, at about 1040 central daylight time, a Grumman American Aviation AA-5A, registration N9695U, was destroyed by ground impact and post-impact fire following a loss of control during a go-around at the Downtown Airport (3DW), Springfield, Missouri. The private pilot and the right-seat passenger received serious injuries; the rear-seat passenger received fatal injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight had departed 3DW about 1010 for a local flight.
The pilot reported conducting two flights that morning. The first, with three passengers, was a 30-minute flight returning about 1000, operated normally. For the second flight, the pilot took two passengers. After about 30 minutes, he headed south to return to the airport.
The pilot made radio calls at 10 and 5 miles, announcing his intention to land on runway 29. About 3 miles north of the airport, he radioed that he would cross runway 29 at midfield to enter a left downwind. Immediately after, another pilot announced he was 3 miles southwest and would cross midfield to enter a right downwind for runway 29.
The other aircraft crossed midfield first, flew a right downwind, base, and final, then landed on runway 29 and taxied to the run-up area at the west end.
The accident pilot then flew across midfield and an extended left downwind to ensure separation. He turned left base and entered an extended final. On final, he did not see the other airplane and radioed; the other pilot responded he would remain in the run-up area. The accident pilot decided to land near the runway numbers instead of the touchdown zone to increase separation.
He flew a stabilized approach but as he got closer, he determined he might be short by 3 or 4 feet. He raised the nose to extend the glidepath, which he said "probably caused me to stall." The airplane dropped suddenly onto the runway and bounced. He considered a go-around but continued. After a second bounce, he executed a go-around by applying full throttle; the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. He attempted to correct back onto the runway, and the wing or tail might have scraped the ground. The airplane returned to the runway but veered off the right side as he raised the flaps. He was uncertain after that and thought the airplane became airborne again. He reported, "I also probably did not release the back pressure on the yoke and the plane stalled and then crashed."
A witness in the fixed base operator's lobby saw the airplane landing with its right wing almost hitting the ground. He then saw the airplane at about 100 feet, at slow airspeed with a high nose attitude, wings rocking, then the right wing dropped. He reported the airplane "stalled" and the right wing impacted the ground in a steep nose-down attitude.
The pilot exited under his own power. Local citizens rescued the second passenger but were unable to rescue the rear seat passenger due to the post-impact fire.
Personnel Information
The pilot, aged 36, held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating and a third-class medical certificate issued in May 2010. He had about 105 hours total flight time, with about 37 hours in the accident airplane. He received his private pilot rating in September 2010.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a single-engine Grumman American Aviation AA-5A, serial number AA5A-0061, seating four, maximum gross weight 2,200 pounds, powered by a 150-horsepower Lycoming O-320 engine (serial number L-43192-27A). The last annual inspection was on August 23, 2010, at 2,794 hours total airframe time. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident flight.
Meteorological Information
At 1052, the surface weather observation at 3DW included wind from 270 degrees at 6 knots, clear skies, visibility 10 miles, temperature 19°C, dew point 7°C, altimeter 30.32 inches of mercury.
Airport Information
Downtown Airport is an uncontrolled airport with a single runway. Runway 11/29 is asphalt, 4,035 feet long and 50 feet wide. The airport facility directory lists left traffic patterns for all landings. The only taxiway leads from the fixed base operator's ramp to runway 29's touchdown area, requiring back-taxi after landing to reach the ramp. Run-up areas are on the east and west ends of the runway.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The main wreckage was on the right side of the runway, about 3,000 feet from the approach end of runway 29 and about 300 feet from the centerline. The debris path was about 90 feet long, on a 330-degree magnetic heading from initial impact to main wreckage. Most of the airplane was consumed by post-impact fire.
Inspection of the approach end revealed two parallel black skid marks veering off the left side of the runway. A single skid mark continued in the grass for about 282 feet before returning to the runway. Two parallel black skid marks crossed the runway diagonally, stopping near the centerline, but continued in the grass on the right side for about 50 feet.
Flight control cables exhibited continuity; breaks were consistent with overload separations. The engine crankshaft rotated, drive train continuity was confirmed, all cylinders had thumb compression and suction. Propeller blades showed leading edge nicks and chordwise scratching.
Additional Information
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector interviewed the pilot of the airplane that landed before the accident. That pilot reported approaching 3DW from the west, in contact with Springfield Approach Control. He announced crossing midfield to enter a right downwind as he was unfamiliar with the airport. On final, he heard the accident pilot announce a 45-degree entry for left downwind. He landed on runway 29, passed the taxiway turnoff, continued to the end, and pulled into the run-up area, calling clear of the runway. He was busy in the cockpit and did not see the accident. He later announced back-taxi to the ramp; there was no response. While taxiing back, he saw the airplane erupt in flames.