Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Monte Vista, Colorado 81144
Wednesday, December 25, 1991 14:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON A POST TAKEOFF CROSSWIND CLIMB, THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT AT A LOW ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED VERTICALLY IN A FROZEN OPEN FIELD. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT TO BE 90 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT; THE PILOT TO BE SUFFERING FROM PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT DUE TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING; THE PILOT TO BE LOW IN TOTAL EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE IN TYPE; AND RECENT EXPERIENCE. TOXICOLOGY TESTS REVEALED 16% CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN IN THE PILOT'S BLOOD. PASSENGER TEST RESULTS WERE NEGATIVE. THAT SATURATION LEVEL CAN CAUSE DEGRADATION IN JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE. THE PILOT WAS A MECHANIC AND HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO RUNNING ENGINES IN A NON-VENTILATED SHOP THE DAY/EVENING PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AN INADVERTENT STALL BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO EFFECT RECOVERY. FACTORS WERE: AIRCRAFT GROSS WEIGHT ABOVE MAXIMUM; PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT; LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE; LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE; AND LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN TYPE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/25/1991
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City MONTE VISTA
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81144
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1896
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45835
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9991U
NTSB Number DEN92FA020
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
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 AA5A0391
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 7 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 39
Airframe Hours 3702
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRED SCHROTENBOER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5670 E. HWY. 160
Aircraft Owner City MONTE VISTA
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81144
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FRED SCHROTENBOER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1427
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --