14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, June 14, 2015 in Fredericksburg, TX
Aircraft: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5, registration: N6552L
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On June 14, 2015, about 1119 central daylight time, a Grumman American Aviation Corporation model AA-5 airplane, N6552L, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Gillespie County Airport (T82), Fredericksburg, Texas. The private pilot sustained serious injuries and his passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot's spouse, about 1115, the pilot called her and stated that he and the passenger/mechanic had completed an annual inspection of the airplane and were going on a local flight in the airport traffic pattern. There were no witnesses to the accident. The main wreckage was subsequently located by the property owner about 1245.
The wreckage was located in an open pasture with no trees or other obstructions in the general vicinity of the accident site. The wreckage was located along the extended centerline for runway 14, about 1/4 mile from the departure threshold. The aircraft wreckage was orientated on a 350 degree magnetic heading. The airplane had impacted in a nose-down attitude. There was no appreciable wreckage propagation from the point-of-impact. The main wreckage consisted of the entire airframe, including all structural components and flight control surfaces. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to the rudder and elevator surfaces. Flight control continuity for the right aileron was confirmed; however, there was a torque-tube separation for the left aileron that was consistent with impact damage. The wing flaps appeared to be in the fully retracted position. The fuel system contained tank damage and several line separations that were consistent with impact damage. A first responder reported that the cockpit fuel selector was initially found in the RIGHT position and that, during rescue efforts, he turned the fuel selector to the OFF position. There was fluid present in both supply lines to the fuel selector assembly. The outflow line from the fuel selector was found fragmented. The fluid collected from the right tank supply line was consistent in color and odor to 100 low-lead aviation fuel. There was no water or particulate contamination in the sample collected from the right tank supply line. The fluid collected from the left tank supply line contained a mixture of fuel and water contamination. The electric fuel pump, the lowest point in the fuel system, contained a mixture of fuel and water contamination. The fuel pump filter screen was corroded and was partially obstructed by particulate contaminates.
The engine remained partially attached to the firewall by its mounts and control cables. Mechanical continuity was confirmed from the engine components to their respective cockpit controls. Internal engine and valve train continuity was confirmed as the engine crankshaft was rotated. Compression and suction were noted on all cylinders in conjunction with crankshaft rotation. The spark plugs were removed and exhibited features consistent with normal engine operation. Both magnetos provided spark on all leads when rotated. There were no obstructions between the air filter housing and the carburetor. The carburetor fuel bowl contained trace amounts of a fluid that was brown/tan in color, had an odor consistent with aviation fuel, and tested positive for water contamination. Several water droplets were observed to drain from the number 2 engine cylinder when the lower spark plug was removed. The propeller remained attached to the engine crankshaft flange. The propeller blades exhibited aft bending, chordwise scratches, and polishing. The postaccident engine examination revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure that would have precluded normal operation.
At 1115, the T82 automated surface observing system reported: wind 170 degrees at 7 knots, broken ceilings at 2,100 feet above ground level (agl) and 2,700 feet agl, 10 mile surface visibility; temperature 26 degrees Celsius; dew point 21 degrees Celsius; and an altimeter setting of 29.93 inches of mercury.
A handheld GPS device, recovered from the wreckage, recorded an alert message (an interruption of external power) at 1119:38 (hhmm:ss). The handheld GPS device was not configured to record historical position/track data. A second GPS device was recovered from the wreckage and was retained for additional examination.
THOMAS E. ALEXANDER: http://registry.faa.gov/N6552L
A mechanical failure has been cited by the Texas Department of Public Safety as the suspected cause of the crash of a small airplane that claimed the life of an Ingram man and left another critically injured.
According to DPS reports, John Dozier, 57, was piloting a Grumman AA-5 Traveler aircraft.
Dozier was attempting to land the plane at the Gillespie County Airport.
The engine lost power “on approach” and crashed in a field just short of the runway, according to DPS reports.
Dozier died as the scene of the crash.
A passenger, Charles Reed, 51, also of Ingram, received significant injuries and was transported to San Antonio, where he is listed in critical condition.
A DPS spokesperson said troopers secured the scene and gathered information on site.
A formal investigation will be conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration.
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One man is dead and another is in critical condition after a plane crashed Sunday afternoon in Fredericksburg.
John Clifton Dozier, 57, died after a small plane crashed just short of the Gillespie County Airport runway, a Texas Department of Public Safety report states.
Emergency crews responded to the accident at about 12:46 p.m.
Dozier was found dead at the scene.
A second man was taken to University Hospital in critical condition, the report states.
No other details were immediately available.
Investigators said they didn’t yet know who was piloting the plane.
http://www.mysanantonio.com
FREDERICKSBURG, Texas - One person is dead, another is in the hospital after a small aircraft crashed in Fredericksburg on Sunday.
Airport officials said that the single engine Grumman plane crashed around 1 p.m. near the Gillespie County Airport
It is believed that the plane lost power just after take off and crashed into a field about 1,000 feet from the runway.
No word on the condition of the other crash victim.
NTSB is investigating the crash.
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