Grumman AA-1 accident near Lafayette, Tennessee, August 9, 1982
On August 9, 1982 at about 12:50 pm local time, a Grumman AA-1, registered N5628L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lafayette, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1982 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lafayette, Tennessee
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1
- Registration
- N5628L · registry record · serial 0028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED WHILE APPARENTLY TRYING TO LAND IN A FIELD DRG IFR CONDITIONS AFTER LOSS OF A TOP ENG COWLING. THE PLT HAD JUST MADE A MAY DAY TRANSMISSION THAT HE HAD LOST HIS COWLING. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHETHER THE COWLING WAS LOST BEFORE OR AFTER HE ENTERED INTO THE WEATHER. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THE OVERCAST WAS 100 FT AND VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/2 MILE IN FOG. THE WEATHER DATA CITED ABOVE WAS THE OFFICIAL WEATHER RECORDED AT BOWL GREEN, KY.
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
- Flight time: 105 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 72 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,901 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,465 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Olney IL at 6:30 am
- Destination: Titusville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 163°F (73°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.