The Airplane Crashed In A Wooded Area Adjacent To A Two-Lane Road And There Were No Known Witnesses

Location: Rockmart, GA Accident Number: ERA24FA365
Date & Time: September 4, 2024, 11:21 Local Registration: N9659L
Aircraft: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5 Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

On September 4, 2024, about 1121 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American Aviation Corporation AA-5 airplane, N9659L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rockmart, Georgia. The flight instructor and a student pilot were fatally injured. 

The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Initial Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) track data revealed that the airplane departed runway 13 at Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport (PUJ), Dallas, Georgia about 1033. The airplane proceeded to the west, and remained within 15 nm of PUJ. Track data indicated maneuvering flight between 2,500 ft and 4,000 ft msl, consistent with a private pilot training profile. About 1116, the airplane turned to and maintained a northeasterly heading for about 4 minutes, followed by a turn to the east, then to the north. The last recorded ADS-B data showed a gradual left turn about 150 ft above the ground. The last recorded ground track location was about 250 ft east-southeast of the accident site.

The airplane crashed in a wooded area adjacent to a two-lane road and there were no known witnesses. The wreckage came to rest in a steep, nose low attitude on a heading of 270°. There was no fire. All components of the airplane were located within the wreckage debris field.

The pilots were not in communication with air traffic control at the time of the accident, and there were no known distress calls received from the airplane. The wreckage was retained for further examination. 

FMI: www.ntsb.gov