Klamath Falls Intl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603
Monday, August 5, 1996 17:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Because runway 32 was closed for paving, the pilot elected to land on Runway 25. At the time of his landing, the winds were gusting to over 20 knots, and blowing about 60 degrees from the runway heading. Just as the aircraft touched down, it encountered a strong gust and began drifting toward the side of the runway. As it departed the runway, the pilot initiated a go-around, but the aircraft continued to drift. As he attempted to gain altitude and bring the aircraft back toward the runway, it collided with a distance-remaining sign and slid to a stop.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain proper alignment with the runway during the landing/go-around. Factors relating to the accident were: strong, gusty crosswinds, and the encounter with a runway distance-remaining marker.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/5/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City KLAMATH FALLS
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97603
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 KLAMATH FALLS INTL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LMT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4086
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1755 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LMT
Elevation of weather observation facility 4086
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 23
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1379
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 5 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2016
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:18AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N26414
NTSB Number SEA96LA180
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 Grumman American
Aircraft Model AA-5A
Aircraft Series Identifier AA-5A
Aircraft Serial Number AA5A-0578
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 May 13 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 2835
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SALEM PILOTS ASSOCIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 105
Aircraft Owner City SALEM
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97308
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SWEET, DAVID, N.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3731 CONCOMLY ROAD SOUTH
Operator City SALEM
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97306
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ONO
Departure City ONTARIO
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code LMT
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Go-around (VFR)
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 5258
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --