Grumman AA-5A accident near Lexington, North Carolina, October 14, 1990
On October 14, 1990 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5A, registered N7103L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lexington, North Carolina (Lexington Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ESTABLISH AN APPROACH PROFILE WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED HIM TO MAKE A SAFE LANDING ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED THROUGHOUT THE APPROACH. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE COLLISION WITH THE RAILROAD BERM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1990 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lexington, North Carolina · Lexington Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5A
- Registration
- N7103L · no longer on the register · serial AA5-0403
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING A FULL-STOP LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND LANDING ATTEMPT. ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, HE WAS TOO HIGH AND FAST FOR A SAFE LANDING. DURING THE NEXT APPROACH THE CARBURETOR HEAT LEVER WAS PLACED IN THE ON POSITION FOR THE LANDING. WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE WAS AGAIN TOO HIGH AND FAST, HE ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND. BUT THERE WAS NOT AN INSTANT POWER RESPONSE WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED. THE PILOT DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE LANDING ATTEMPT. THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 8 AND COLLIDED WITH A RAILROAD EMBANKMENT; THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS REPORTED. .
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: 250 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RUQ Salisbury NC at 11:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,300 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:50 pm from GSO, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.