Amateur-built AA5A accident near Burnsville, North Carolina, October 27, 1991
On October 27, 1991 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AA5A, registered N74279, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burnsville, North Carolina (Mt. Air Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND THE SELECTION OF TAKEOFF RUNWAY WITH AN UPSLOPE FOR TAKEOFF. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1991 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burnsville, North Carolina · Mt. Air Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA5A
- Registration
- N74279 · no longer on the register · serial AA5A-0185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED DOWN A HILLSIDE AFTER THE PILOT REJECTED A TAKEOFF FROM A RUNWAY WHICH ROSE 40 FEET FROM THE INITIAL TAKEOFF ROLL. THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF ABOUT 900 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. REPORTEDLY, THE WINDS WERE CALM AND THE DOWNSLOPE RUNWAY WAS RECOMMENDED FOR NORMAL TAKEOFFS FROM THE MOUNTAINOUS AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS NOT EXPERIENCED WITH OPERATIONS AT HIGHER THAN SEA LEVEL. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED AT 5,250 FEET.
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: 130 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 130 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1991; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-310-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Burnsville NC at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 49J Hilton Head Isl SC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from AVL, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.