Amateur-built AA-5B accident near Camden, Tennessee, August 7, 1991
On August 7, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-5B, registered N28544, was substantially damaged in an accident near Camden, Tennessee (Benton County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S DELAYED DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, RESULTING IN HIS INABILITY TO STOP THE AIRPLANE IN THE REMAINING RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLYING EXPERIENCE, AND THE HIGH OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Camden, Tennessee · Benton County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5B
- Registration
- N28544 · no longer on the register · serial AA5B-0669
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PERFORMING THE TAKEOFF OF THE RETURN LEG OF A VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. AT ABOUT 55-60 KNOTS, HE BEGAN TO ROTATE, AND THE STALL WARNING HORN ACTIVATED. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT REACHING FLYING AIRSPEED, SO HE REDUCED THE THROTTLE AND APPLIED BRAKES. HE WAS UNABLE TO BRING THE AIRPLANE TO A STOP IN THE REMAINING RUNWAY SURFACE, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND A CREEK BED. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE, AND NONE WERE FOUND DURING THE POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION. THE PILOT, WHOSE TOTAL FLYING TIME WAS 21 HOURS, REPORTED THE TEMPERATURE AT TAKEOFF TO BE ABOUT 100 DEGREES F.
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: student
- Flight time: 21 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LHC Arlington TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from MKL, 45 miles away
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.