Bowman Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Louisville, Kentucky 40218
Tuesady, June 5, 2001 18:08 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot/owner and the flight instructor completed a local training flight without incident, and then they returned to their home airport. On final approach, air traffic control asked that they perform a go-around due to traffic on the landing runway. During the subsequent traffic pattern, the pilot surrendered the flight controls to the flight instructor. The instructor performed the approach and landing, but immediately after touchdown, the airplane veered left, departed the runway, crossed a grass apron, and struck railroad ties that bordered a runway under construction. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA revealed no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane, its brakes, or its landing gear. Both the flight instructor and the pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. According to the flight instructor, "The airplane flew very nicely. Always does."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control after landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/5/2001
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1808
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Louisville
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 40218
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 381336N
Event Location Longitude 0853948W
Event Location Airport Bowman Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LOU
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 546
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1817 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LOU
Elevation of weather observation facility 546
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) 2166
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13363
NTSB Notification Source Southern Region Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 7 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 13 2003 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Louisville, Kentucky

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9773U
NTSB Number IAD01LA063
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR/IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman
Aircraft Model AA-5A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AA5A-0173
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 Nov 25 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 34
Airframe Hours 3833
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Chase Donaldson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Dover
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19901
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code LOU
Departure City Louisville
Departure State KY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1610
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 17 2002 2:42PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 19
Runway Length 3700
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --