APPLE VALLEY, CA, USA
N4553R
GRUMMAN AA-5B
THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT UTILIZING A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF TECHNIQUE FROM A DIRT AIRSTRIP AT A DENSITY ALTITUDE COMPUTED AT 6,200 FEET. THE AIRSTRIP IS LOCATED AT 3,200 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 40 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND THEN SUDDENLY DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE AND AN EARTH COMPACTING MACHINE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT OR WINDSHEAR CONDITION.
On June 18, 1994, about 1430 hours Pacific daylight time, a Grumman AA-5B, N4553R, crashed during takeoff from the Holiday Valley Ranch Airport, a private dirt airstrip about 7 miles east of Apple Valley, California. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight to Banning, California, when the accident occurred. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that prior to departure he reviewed and planned a short field takeoff under high density altitude conditions. After lift-off from runway 06, about 40 feet above the ground, the airplane entered a downdraft and/or windshear and the airplane descended to the ground. The airplane then struck a fence and a large, earth compacting machine. The airplane received damage to the landing gear, fuselage, and engine.
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed in the takeoff initial climb and the resultant inadvertent entry into a stall/mush condition. High density altitude and downdraft conditions were factors in the accident.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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