Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path during a simulated forced landing and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action to execute a go-around.
NTSB analysis
The pilot attempted a simulated forced landing at the airport by entering the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 28 during an instructional flight. During final approach, the pilot realized that the airplane was not going to reach the runway and attempted a go-around. The airplane impacted the ground about 700 feet short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the structure underlying the nose landing gear. The pilot and flight instructor were uninjured. The airplane had not been registered since its purchase by the current owner.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN10CA154 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Feb 27, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Maple Lake, Minnesota
- Nearest airport
- Maple Lake Municipal Airport (MGG)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Grumman American AA-5
- N-number
- N5418L
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.