Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Beaumont, Texas 77713
Friday, April 11, 2008 10:17 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, while in cruise flight at 7,000 feet in instrument meteorological conditions, he encountered embedded thunderstorms and up and down drafts. Multiple unusual attitudes were encountered and engine power was lost. Shortly thereafter, the airplane entered a flat spin, from which the pilot was unable to recover. The airplane impacted a field in a flat attitude, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the airplane's systems and an engine run revealed no anomalies. Satellite and radar data depicted embedded towering cumulus clouds and rain shower activity in the accident area.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control in cruise flight and encounter with a thunderstorm. Contributing to the accident was an inadvertent stall/spin.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/11/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1017
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Beaumont
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77713
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 301222N
Event Location Longitude 0942955W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID KBPT
Elevation of weather observation facility 16
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 28
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 70000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24032
NTSB Notification Source FAA ASW ROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 11 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 28 2008 3:01PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Houston FAA Flight Standards District Office

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9764U
NTSB Number DEN08LA074
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman American Aviation
Aircraft Model AA-5A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AA5A-0164
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Aug 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 5147.1
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert Skinner
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Houston
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77066
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address On File
Operator City Magnolia
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 77355
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DWH
Departure City Houston
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HBG
Destination City Hattiesburg
Destination State MS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 31 2008 2:58PM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --