Incident Overview
On July 5, 2011, at approximately 1050 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman AA-5, registration N1334R, collided with a tree and then terrain near Yacoit, Washington. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage from impact forces. The personal cross-country flight departed Grove Field, Camas, Washington, about 1040, with a planned destination of Grant County Regional/Ogilvie Field, John Day, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed.
Flight Sequence
The pilot reported departing straight out from runway 25 and opening his flight plan. He contacted Portland Approach Control for VFR flight following. Approach Control instructed him to remain clear of the Class C airspace until positive radar identification. The pilot reversed his course, and the airplane was back abeam Grove Field. He remained on an easterly heading and climbed to 2,400 feet. Observing rising terrain to the east, he decided to head back west, maintaining a reduced power setting and 100 miles per hour (mph) airspeed.
Portland Approach contacted the pilot, stating they had radar contact and queried when he could accept a clearance to continue on course. The pilot replied he could proceed immediately, indicating his position was about 4 miles from the Gymme intersection—the first waypoint on his planned route. He requested to cruise at 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl). He added full power and began a climbing left turn to proceed on course. The pilot stated he did not lose adequate terrain clearance at any time during the course reversal.
Engine and Airspeed Anomaly
The airplane was at full power climbing about 400-500 feet per minute. At about 3,000 feet msl, the pilot felt a small bump and noted that the airspeed dropped to 80 mph. He verified that the throttle was in full, and then the airspeed dropped to 60 mph, which he said was 2 mph above the clean stall speed. While maintaining 60 mph with full power, the airplane began descending.
Collision and Aftermath
The pilot noticed a large fir tree in the airplane's path; he stated that the airplane had about 1,000 feet of clearance above the tree's elevation prior to the bump. He started a gentle 4-degree bank turn to avoid the tree. The airplane descended until the right wing collided at midspan with a smaller unseen tree. The airplane came to rest in a gravel pit. Both the pilot and passenger sustained broken legs and lacerations; the pilot sustained broken fingers on his right hand as well, which he attributed to maintaining the full throttle position until touchdown.
Pilot and Passenger Statements
The pilot stated that his preflight forecast was for calm conditions to 6,000 feet, and he did not encounter any turbulence during the flight. He indicated that he was maintaining a low altitude to avoid the controlled airspace above him. The pilot initiated a left turn to avoid rising terrain ahead and could not estimate the altitude above ground level (agl). He did not think winds were a factor, but that the airplane might have been too low at the initiation of the turn.
The passenger stated that he was looking around enjoying the flight and the scenery as they were heading up a valley. He recalled looking at the engine gauges, and the engine rpm was in the green operating range. The engine sounded good until the end. As he looked back to the front of the airplane, he and the pilot almost simultaneously stated they were not going to make it. The pilot indicated they would be all right if they could get between two trees. The airplane hit one tree, then the ground. The passenger was not sure what direction the airplane was headed or if it was turning. He felt that all changes to the airplane's flight path were controlled at all times, and did not think there were air pockets, updrafts, or downdrafts that affected the flight path.
Witness and Examination
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator interviewed a bystander who came to the aid about 5 minutes after the crash. The bystander observed one person with a shattered ankle standing by the left side of the airplane and one person still in the right seat. He noted a small fuel leak from under the left wing and a fuel odor.
Two FAA inspectors examined the airplane on scene. They observed a 5-gallon bucket under the left wing with about 1/2 inch of fuel in it. They opened the fuel caps on each wing tank but could not determine if any or how much fuel was in the tanks.