Catalina Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Avalon, California 90704
Sunday, November 3, 2013 15:15 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that prior to arrival at the airport he checked the weather, which was reporting that the wind was variable at 7 knots. While on final approach, over the numbers, he reported that the airplane was not descending as it should and seemed fast. The pilot observed the windsock straight out and realized he was landing with a tailwind. As he was deciding whether to go around or not, the landing gear touched down, and he decided to make a full stop. The airplane subsequently continued off the end of the runway and over a cliff coming to rest upright about 120 feet from the runway in an open dirt area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall and undercarriage. 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 aircraft control while landing with a tailwind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/3/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Avalon
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90704
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332418N
Event Location Longitude 1182457W
Event Location Airport CATALINA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AVX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 273
Airport Elevation 1602
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2251 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 273
Weather Observation Facility ID AVX
Elevation of weather observation facility 1602
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
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) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
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) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KAVX 232251Z AUTO 24004KT 10SM CLR 13/07 A30
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32457
NTSB Notification Source FAA AWP Regional Operations Ce
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2014 4:13PM
User who most recently changed record cort
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1550R
NTSB Number WPR14CA043
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP.
Aircraft Model AA 5B
Aircraft Series Identifier B
Aircraft Serial Number AA5B-0050
Certified Max Gross Weight 2401
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 4
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 9 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 38
Airframe Hours 2118
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BUNDSCHU JAMES T
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City VINEBURG
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 954870001
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name David C Hubbard
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Fallbrook
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 92028
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 SEE
Departure City SAN DIEGO/EL CAJON
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code AVX
Destination City Avalon
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2014 4:14PM
User who most recently changed record cort
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --