Amateur-built AA-5A accident near Midland, Texas, September 7, 1995
On September 7, 1995 at about 6:45 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-5A, registered N9642U, was destroyed in an accident near Midland, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's selection of a downwind runway for takeoff. Factors were the tailwind, the density altitude, and the overloading of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1995 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5A
- Registration
- N9642U · no longer on the register · serial 0008
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A recently-certificated private pilot and the passenger/owner of the airplane were en route to Alaska on a 3-week hunting and fishing trip. After topping off at their first fueling stop, the pilot taxied the airplane to runway 29, and held while another airplane landed into the wind on runway 07. The airplane took off on runway 29 with a 18 knot, gusting to 24, tailwind. After a 'long' takeoff roll, as the airplane came within 500 feet of the departure end of the 4,380-foot runway, a 'very steep' angle of climb was established and the airplane cleared the ground. After clearing commercial buildings off the airport, the pilot lost control of the airplane and impacted a single story residence. The winds were reported from 070 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 24. Density altitude was calculated as 5,300 feet. At the time of takeoff, the airplane was calculated to be 118 pounds over its maximum gross weight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 118 hours in all; 8 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,749 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 21, 1994; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MDD at 6:44 pm
- Destination: POV Provo UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.