Harris Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Coalinga, California 93210
Friday, November 26, 2010 15:15 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, she did not perform a flight control check prior to takeoff. During the departure roll, when the airplane reached 70 miles per hour, she realized that the gust lock was still installed in the control column. She attempted to remove the device, but was unsuccessful. She reduced the engine power in an attempt to stop the airplane, but it continued off the end of the runway; the nose gear separated, and it came to rest in a dirt field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and right wing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to remove the gust lock prior to takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/26/2010
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Coalinga
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93210
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 360823N
Event Location Longitude 1202137W
Event Location Airport Harris Ranch
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3O8
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 470
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1456 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID NLC
Elevation of weather observation facility 232
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 27810
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2010 4:36PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N74400
NTSB Number WPR11CA066
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 AVN. CORP.
Aircraft Model AA-5B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AA5B-0213
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Jul 15 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 2370
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name Anna Longwell
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PALO ALTO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94303-4446
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Anna Longwell
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City PALO ALTO
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 94303-4446
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 3O8
Departure City Coalinga
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1514
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PAO
Destination City Palo Alto
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2010 4:36PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 2820
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --