NTSB Peliminary Report: Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A, N26886, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Rowdy, Kentucky. The private pilot was fatally injured.

 

 

NTSB Identification: ERA15FA220

 

14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation

 

Accident occurred Thursday, May 21, 2015 in Rowdy, KY

 

Aircraft: GULFSTREAM AMERICAN CORP AA-5A, registration: N26886

 

Injuries: 1 Fatal.

 

On May 21, 2015, about 1854 eastern daylight time, a Gulfstream American Corp AA-5A, N26886, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Rowdy, Kentucky. The private pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Aiken Municipal Airport (AIK), Aiken, South Carolina, at an unknown time, and was destined for Wendell H Ford Airport (CPF), Hazard, Kentucky. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The owner of the accident airplane stated that he had spoken with the accident pilot about the flight to CPF earlier in the day, and that they had discussed the weather conditions. According to Lockheed Martin Flight Service, there were no records of the pilot having obtained a weather briefing through a Flight Service Station or through the DUAT service. There were also no records of the pilot having contacted any Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control facilities during the flight.

Preliminary radar information obtained from the FAA showed a target approaching CPF from the south at an altitude of about 8,300 feet, beginning about 1830, displaying the standard visual flight rules (VFR) transponder code of 1200. The target passed west of CPF about 1844, and continued north before beginning a descending right turn toward the southwest about 1846. About 1849, the target began a series of turns about 1 mile east of CPF, with altitudes varying between 7,400 to 6,700 feet. The last two radar returns were at 1853:38 and 1854:02, with altitudes of 6,800 feet and 0 feet, respectively. The last radar return was located about 550 feet southwest of the accident site.

The accident site was located about 1 nautical mile east of CPF in heavily wooded, mountainous terrain. The initial impact point was identified as a tree, past which the wreckage path extended on a heading of about 084 degrees. Along the wreckage path, several angularly-cut tree branches were identified that exhibited paint transfer consistent with propeller contact. The main wreckage came to rest about 70 feet past the initial impact point, and was destroyed by impact. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene. The engine was separated from the airframe and heavily impact-damaged. Both propeller blades exhibited significant s-bending, leading edge gouging, and chordwise scratching.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration third class medical certificate was issued in July 2014. Review of the pilot's logbook indicated that he had accumulated about 220 total hours of flight experience. The pilot did not possess an instrument rating.

The airplane was manufactured in 1979, and was equipped with a Lycoming O-320 series, 150 hp reciprocating engine. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on August 1, 2014, at a total aircraft time of 2,136.75 hours.

The 1905 weather observation at CPF included wind from 330 degrees at 4 knots, 3 miles visibility, drizzle, broken clouds at 800 feet, broken clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast clouds at 2,000 feet, temperature 11 degrees C, dew point 11 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.08 inches of mercury. 

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.