Amateur-built AA-5A accident near Richmond Hill, Georgia, October 29, 1993
On October 29, 1993 at about 9:20 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-5A, registered N26462, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richmond Hill, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE ABOVE THE WATER. AND HIS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT DUE TO DRUGS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 1993 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Richmond Hill, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5A
- Registration
- N26462 · registry record · serial AA5A-0609
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FLYING OVER THE OGEECHEE RIVER. THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDS WERE NORMAL, AND THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO DIVE TOWARD THE RIVER. IT APPEARED AS IF A RIGHT TURN WAS BEING ATTEMPTED WHEN IT HIT THE WATER. THE AUTOPSY OF THE PILOT REVEALED THAT HIS HEART HAD PATCH ATHEROSCLEROSIS, WITH THE LEFT ANTERIOR DESCENDING ARTERY DENSELY CALCIFIED AND APPARENTLY OCCLUDED. THERE WERE AREAS OF OLD SCARRING IN THE INTERVENTRICULAR SEPTUM, AND SECTIONS OF THE CORONARY ARTERIES SHOWED ADVANCED CALCIFIC, OCCLUSIVE ATHEROSCLEROSIS. TOXICOLOGICAL EXAM REVEALED 0.104 UG/ML NORDIAZEPAM IN BLOOD, 0.043 UG/ML OXAZEPAM IN BLOOD, AND AN UNSPECIFIED QUANTITY OF TEMAZEPAM IN BLOOD; ALL ARE MEMBERS OF THE BENZODIAZEPINE FAMILY OF TRANQUILIZERS. IN ADDITION, 3.000 UG/ML FENOPROFEN WAS DETECTED IN BLOOD.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 537 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 337 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,409 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1993; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from SAV, 25 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.