American Aviation AA5 accident near Cowles, NM
On September 27, 2019, an American Aviation AA5 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cowles, NM. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 27, 2019
- Place
- Cowles, NM
- Aircraft
- American Aviation AA5 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.910°N, 105.564°W
- NTSB ID
- 20190929X73348
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT**This report was modified on September 8, 2021. Please refer to the public docket for this investigation, a link to which can be found at the end of this report, to see the original.** On September 26, 2019, about 1811 mountain daylight time, a Grumman AA-5A airplane, N9774U, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Cowles, New Mexico. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot planned to fly to Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF), Santa Fe, New Mexico, with a friend to accumulate flight time. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the airplane departed Denver, Colorado, at 0949, flew east of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and landed at SAF. The pilot requested fuel, and they departed on the return flight about 1745. ADS-B data showed that, after departure, the airplane completed a 180º climbing left turn to a southeasterly heading. At 1751, the airplane turned to the east for about three minutes before adjusting its course to the northeast directly toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The airplane remained on this heading until the track data ceased at 1801, as shown in figure 1. The pilot was not in contact with air traffic control at the time of the accident. Two hunters located about 13 miles south of the accident site witnessed a single-engine airplane flying north about 1800 on the day of the accident. One of them saw the airplane about 20 ft above the trees and noted that he could not hear any audible n
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to fly into terrain that exceeded the performance capabilities of the airplane, which resulted in failure to maintain clearance from trees and terrain.
More accidents in NM
- Gates Learjet 25D, Sep 5, 1993
- Piper PA-32-300, Dec 26, 1982
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- Cessna 421C, Feb 11, 1985
- Beech 58, Mar 26, 1982
Browse: New Mexico · American aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
