Amateur-built AA-5 accident near Columbus, Ohio, June 15, 1989
On June 15, 1989 at about 3:19 am local time, a amateur-built AA-5, registered N6506L, was destroyed in an accident near Columbus, Ohio (Port Columbus Intl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPERLY PLANNED APPROACH, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), WHICH LED TO AN ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE AND A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1989 · about 3:19 am local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · Port Columbus Intl
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5
- Registration
- N6506L · no longer on the register · serial AA5-0606
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,493 hours in all; 574 in this make and model; 334 in the last 90 days; 114 in the last 30 days; 6,386 as pilot in command; 5,763 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,451 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 16, 1989; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DLZ Delaware OH at 3:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 10,701 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 11,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:38 pm from CMH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N6506L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.