Tucson Intl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tucson, Arizona 85706
Sunday, August 23, 1987 8:10 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED THAT JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER & HE WAS UNABLE TO LAND BACK AT THE AIRPORT. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY LINE & POLE. AN EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A ROCKER ARM ON THE #4 CYLINDER HAD FAILED. A METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE PART SHOWED IT HAD FAILED FROM HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/23/1987
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 810
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City TUCSON
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85706
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TUCSON INTL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TUS
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 2630
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 813 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TUC
Elevation of weather observation facility 2630
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 4500
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 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1678
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 23 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35016
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N26250
NTSB Number LAX87LA312
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 GULFSTREAM AMERICAN
Aircraft Model AA-5A
Aircraft Series Identifier AA-5A
Aircraft Serial Number AA5A
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 2300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name OPENGART, ARNOLD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5635 E SOUTH WILSHIRE
Aircraft Owner City TUCSON
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name OPENGART, ARNOLD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5635 E. SOUTH WILSHIRE
Operator City TUSCON
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85711
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 TUS
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 805
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SDL
Destination City SCOTTSDALE
Destination State AZ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 3
Runway Length 7000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --