Amateur-built AA-5 accident near Snow Hill, North Carolina, October 27, 1992
On October 27, 1992, a amateur-built AA-5, registered N8869L, was destroyed in an accident near Snow Hill, North Carolina. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS WERE THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE DARK NIGHT LIGHTING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1992
- Place
- Snow Hill, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5
- Registration
- N8869L · registry record · serial AA5-0657
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 15 MINUTES INTO A RETURN FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT HIS ENGINE HAD FAILED, AND HE WAS ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING ON A RURAL ROAD. NIGHT, VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. AS THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN, IT COLLIDED WITH A PINE TREE, THE LEFT WING SEVERED, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED, A FIRE ERUPTED, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE FAILED TO REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. ACCORDING TO CARBURETOR ICING CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARBURETOR ICING.
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: 221 hours in all; 149 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,151 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1992; 84 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
- Operator: Tar Heel Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: RWI Rocky Mount NC
- Destination: OAJ Jacksonville NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.