Grumman AA-5B accident near Denver, North Carolina, October 3, 1982
On October 3, 1982 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5B, registered N28820, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denver, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- October 3, 1982 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5B
- Registration
- N28820 · registry record · serial AA5B-0839
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT 3500 FT MSL, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD NOISE (LIKE AN EXPLOSION) AND SAW THE ENGINE COWLING COME OPEN. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE MOVEMENT. DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A PASTURE, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE, AND AT THAT TIME, THE ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. WITNESSES, WHO SAW THE PLANE LAND, STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS JUST HANGING ON AND DROPPING DOWN DURING THE APPROACH. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT 1 BLADE OF THE MCCAULEY, 1A170 PROPELLER HAD FAILED AND SEPARATED IN FLIGHT. A A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THE BLADE HAD FAILED FROM HIGH CYCLE, LOW STRESS FATIGUE CRACKING. THE CRACK INITIATED FROM AN AREA ADJACENT TO AN ATTACHMENT BOLT HOLE. AD 80-04-05 HAD PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED A CRACKING PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL/PROPELLER. IT CALLED FOR A ONE TIME DYE PENETRANT INSPECTION WHICH HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ON THE FAILED PROPELLER. AFTER THIS ACCIDENT, AD 82-27-01 WAS ISSUED TO INSPECT THIS MAKE AND MODEL EVERY 200 HRS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 766 hours in all; 746 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 684 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,276 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 187 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Atlanta GA at 5:15 pm
- Destination: Greensboro NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.