N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yacoit, Washington 98675
Tuesady, July 5, 2011 10:50 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the airplane was climbing to cruise altitude up a valley in mountainous terrain when he felt a “small bump” and that the airplane subsequently began descending. While maintaining a low altitude to avoid overlying controlled airspace, he initiated a left turn to avoid rising terrain ahead, but a wing collided with a tree. The airplane came to rest in a gravel pit. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/2011
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1050
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Yacoit
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98675
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 454243N
Event Location Longitude 1222013W
Event Location Airport N/A
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 1053 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KTTD
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
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 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32617
NTSB Notification Source FAA NWM Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 28 2014 3:14PM
User who most recently changed record plah
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1334R
NTSB Number WPR11LA306
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP.
Aircraft Model AA-5
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AA5-0734
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 Jun 22 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2926
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Steven L Emerson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Camas
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98607
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Steven L Emerson
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Camas
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98607
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Yacoit
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1040
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GCD
Destination City John Day
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 31 2014 4:38PM
User who most recently changed record eckd
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --