ERA15LA266

Factual narrative

On July 13, 2015, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5, N1356R, was substantially damaged during impact with trees following a runway excursion at the Southbridge Municipal Airport (3B0), Southbridge, Massachusetts. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.Runway 02 was 3,501 feet long, 75 feet wide, and consisted of asphalt. The pilot stated that the preflight inspection and the taxi to runway 02 were normal. During the takeoff roll at about rotation speed, a gust of wind yawed the airplane to the left and it became airborne. The pilot corrected for the yaw and was able to maintain runway heading, but he elected to reject the takeoff as he felt it was the safer option, rather than trying to continue. The airplane touched back down and the pilot applied heavy braking, but was unable to stop before impacting trees and brush at the perimeter of the airport. Examination of the airplane at the accident scene by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that it came to rest upright in an area of shrubbery and small trees, against the airport perimeter fence about 600 feet beyond the end of runway 02. The left wing sustained impact damage to the leading edge and upper surface, outboard of midspan. The right wing leading edge was damaged along the outer one-third of its span. The nose landing gear was separated from the fuselage. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multiengine land, instrument airplane, and a type rating for the Boeing 737. He reported 21,623 total flight hours of experience, with 30 hours in the same make and model as the accident aircraft. His most recent first-class medical examination was performed on February 11, 2015. The 1454 recorded weather observation at Worcester Regional Airport, located 12 miles northeast of 3B0, included variable wind direction at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 27 degrees C, dew point 16 degrees C, few clouds at 3,800 feet above ground level, and the altimeter setting was 29.93 inches of mercury. The airline transport pilot reported that, during takeoff from a 3,501-ft-long asphalt runway, a gust of wind yawed the airplane left at rotation and it became airborne. The pilot corrected for the yaw and was able to maintain runway heading; however, he chose to reject the takeoff rather than trying to continue. The airplane touched down and the pilot applied heavy braking, but was unable to stop the airplane before it continued off the runway and impacted trees and brush at the perimeter of the airport. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The reported wind at a nearby airport about the time of the accident was variable at 4 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-(general)-Decision related to condition - C