Lee Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Annapolis, Maryland 21037
Friday, August 23, 1996 13:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during takeoff climb, he started a left turn at 700 feet, then the engine lost power. He tried unsuccessfully to restart the engine, then he ditched the aircraft in a creek. According to witnesses, the aircraft climbed steeply after takeoff. Witnesses described the angle of climb as '...higher than average...' '...too steep...' and '...at least 45 degrees.' One witness stated, 'I thought he was taking off at too steep an angle of climb when I noticed he appeared to stall out and started to side slip to port and lose altitude rapidly.' Examination of the aircraft did not disclose evidence of a mechanical malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed after takeoff, which resulted in a stall and subsequent collision with water.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/23/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ANNAPOLIS
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21037
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LEE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ANP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 120
Airport Elevation 30
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1755 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 251
Weather Observation Facility ID ADW
Elevation of weather observation facility 281
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1681
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 23 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1521
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:17AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9525L
NTSB Number IAD96LA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name American
Aircraft Model AA-5
Aircraft Series Identifier AA-5
Aircraft Serial Number AA5-0525
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 15 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 2040
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RAYMOND R. WAGNER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4 BANYON WOOD COURT, APT. 102
Aircraft Owner City BALTIMORE
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21221
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MTN
Destination City BALTIMORE
Destination State MD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:17AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 2505
Runway Width 48
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --