Accident Grumman American AA-5B Tiger N74827, Thursday 13 August 1998

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Date:	Thursday 13 August 1998
Time:	13:30 LT
Type:	Grumman American AA-5B Tiger
Owner/operator:	Sky Rangers Of Detroit, Inc.
Registration:	N74827
MSN:	AA5B-0373
Year of manufacture:	1976
Total airframe hrs:	5475 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming O-360
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Decatur, IN - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	(KDCR)
Destination airport:	Port Huron, MI (KPHN)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The pilot reported the airplane lifted off about 1/2 way down the airstrip at 65 knots with 10 degrees of flaps. He reported he attempted to keep the airplane close to the ground to gain airspeed because it felt a 'little mushy.' The pilot removed the flaps hoping to pick up airspeed, but 'things just got worse.' The airplane struck a runway marker along the right side of the runway. It then bounced on the airstrip, crossed over a road, and came to rest in a soybean field.

Probable Cause: the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the takeoff and his premature raising of the flaps which resulted in the stall/mush condition.

Accident investigation: