Event LAX98LA245

Factual narrative

On July 26, 1998, at 1437 hours Pacific daylight time, a Grumman AA-5B, N74637, landed hard on runway 29L at the Torrance, California, airport. The aircraft was destroyed. The private pilot and passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that she departed from Torrance en route to Palomar, but returned to land at Torrance due to inclement weather. The winds at Torrance airport were reported to be from 270 degrees at 15 knots. The pilot initiated the landing and stated that just before the flare the winds seemed to push the aircraft off the runway. She reported that she was unable to correct and initiated a go-around. The aircraft stalled and landed hard, then exited the runway and became airborne again before colliding with the ground. The aircraft came to rest in an upright position on runway 29R. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident. The winds were reported to be from 270 degrees at 15 knots. The pilot initiated the landing and stated that just before the flare the winds seemed to push the aircraft off the runway. She reported that she was unable to correct and initiated a go-around. The aircraft stalled, landed hard, then exited the runway and became airborne again before colliding with the ground. The aircraft came to rest in an upright position on runway 29R. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12