Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA 5B accident near Springhill, Louisiana, June 5, 2015
On June 5, 2015 at about 1:10 am local time, a 1975 Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA 5B, registered N74304, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Springhill, Louisiana (Springhill airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Unintentional collision with a deer during landing in dusk visual conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2015 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Springhill, Louisiana · Springhill · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA 5B B, built 1975 · all AA 5Bs on the register
- Registration
- N74304 · no longer on the register · serial AA5B-0192
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while on final approach he was unable to see the runway clearly due to the setting sun, during the landing roll he reported that the airplane's left wing struck a deer. Subsequently the airplane veered off the runway to the left. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,725 hours in all; 255 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,659 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 6, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,145 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 28, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,401 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 3,145 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPH Springhill LA
- Destination: SPH Springhill LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 am from KMNE, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.