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| Date: | Tuesday 25 May 2021 |
| Time: | 07:30 |
| Type: |  Gulfstream American AA-5A Cheetah |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N26889 |
| MSN: | AA5A-0792 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1979 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5419 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O320-E2G |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Rockwood Municipal Airport (RKW/KRKW), Crossville, TN -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Knoxville Downtown Island Airport, TN (KDKX) |
| Cleveland Regional Jetport, TN (KRZR) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On May 25, 2021, about 0730 central daylight time, a Gulfstream American AA-5A, N26889, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Crossville, Tennessee. The student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
The student pilot was on a multi-leg, solo cross-country flight in atmospheric conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at descent power. Track data and interviews with the pilot’s instructor revealed that the airplane entered a gradual descent over a 5-minute span that included a 450° descending right turn. Shortly thereafter, the pilot called his instructor via cell phone and reported that the airplane’s engine was producing only partial power. The instructor stated that the pilot’s demeanor was calm, and as such, the discussion felt conversational and that there was time to discuss fuel state, engine control positions, landing at the nearest airport, or selecting a forced landing site.
When asked, the pilot reported he was “40 to 50 miles” from his departure airport; however, track data revealed that the airplane was about 8 miles south of the departure airport. The instructor suggested the pilot make an “emergency landing in a field,” but the pilot reported that there were trees and mountains ahead of him before the sounds of impact were heard.
The airplane was consumed by postcrash fire. Control continuity to all flight control surfaces was confirmed; examination of the engine revealed the accessories were destroyed by fire and that the core exhibited no preimpact anomalies. The fracture surfaces on a separated carburetor heat control revealed signatures consistent with overstress due to impact and high temperatures.
Based on the lack of mechanical anomalies and the partial loss of engine power as reported by the pilot, it is likely that the engine lost partial power as the result of carburetor ice accumulation, which resulted in descent into terrain. It is likely that the pilot’s prompt application and use of carburetor heat in accordance with the airplane’s operating handbook would have restored engine power.
Probable Cause: A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, which resulted in a descent and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat following the initial loss of engine power.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
http://1057news.com/2021/05/25/08/00/52/breaking-news-possible-plane-crash-reported-near-rockwood-airport/
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2021/05/25/missing-plane-prompts-search-near-rockwood-airport-tennessee/7427974002/
https://www.wbir.com/video/news/local/pilot-dead-in-cumberland-county-plane-crash-reason-for-crash-unknown/51-d4840cad-3961-4ec9-a51d-d627fa9d2206
NTSB
https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N26889
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a2a047&lat=35.946&lon=-84.289&zoom=12.5&showTrace=2021-05-25
Location
Images:
Media:
The NTSB is investigating the crash Tuesday of a Gulfstream AA5 airplane in Crossville, Tennessee. An investigator is traveling to the scene.
— NTSB_Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) May 26, 2021
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 25-May-2021 13:33 | Geno | Added |
| 25-May-2021 18:33 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Departure airport, ] |
| 25-May-2021 23:23 | Captain Adam | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, ] |
| 25-May-2021 23:31 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Nature, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 25-May-2021 23:32 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, ] |
| 26-May-2021 15:31 | Anon. | Updated [Location, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 26-May-2021 18:13 | Captain Adam | Updated [Location, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 27-May-2021 07:00 | Anon. | Updated [Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 30-May-2021 12:31 | aaronwk | Updated [Time, Source, Narrative, ] |
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