Amateur-built AA-5A accident near Ocala, Florida, January 31, 2005
On January 31, 2005 at about 5:50 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-5A, registered N9572U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocala, Florida (Ocala International Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-rated passengers improper use of the rudder control and his failure to maintain directional control resulting in a loss of control on the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 2005 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ocala, Florida · Ocala International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5A
- Registration
- N9572U · no longer on the register · serial AA5-0072U
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private-rated pilot stated he and his pilot-rated passenger flew to Jim Taylor Field to have an avionics upgrade installed. After the installation was complete he flew in the traffic pattern, completing several touch-and-go landings. The pilot-rated passenger's biennial flight review was coming due and wanted to allow him to get some practice during this flight. After touching down on runway 36 the pilot gave control of the airplane to the passenger during the landing roll of the planned go around. When the pilot passenger took control, the airplane began to veer off to the left of the centerline and continued left until it departed the runway and impacted a runway remaining sign. The pilot passenger stated he took control of the airplane during the landing roll with a ground speed of approximately 50 miles per hour. He then added engine power for takeoff and the airplane started to veer to the left. He compensated by added right rudder to correct but the airplane continued to the left. He applied right full rudder yet the airplane exited the runway at approximately 45 degrees from the edge of the runway. The airplane struck the 5,000-foot runway remaining sign before coming to rest in the grass. After the impact, he realized that during the transition of control he placed both feet on the left rudder pedal believing he had his right foot on the right rudder pedal. He and the pilot inspected the airplane and found damage to the engine cowling on the left side, left wing leading edge, left main landing gear and wheel pant, left horizontal stabilizer, and elevator balance faring. The aircraft mechanic who conducted the postaccident inspection of the airplane, stated to the NTSB that he found no mechanical malfunctions or rigging errors that would have prevented the rudder pedals from functioning as designed prior to the accident. He noted that it would be difficult to place both feet on the left rudder pedal as the pilot passenger stated he did.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 25, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 28,800 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 20,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,496 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2004; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ockalawaha FL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: OCF Ocala FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 6,907 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from GNV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.