Grumman AA-5B accident near Salisbury, North Carolina, February 25, 1995
On February 25, 1995 at about 3:29 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5B, registered N28815, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salisbury, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE SEPARATION OF THE OIL LINE TO THE OIL COOLER WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE SEIZURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1995 · about 3:29 pm local time
- Place
- Salisbury, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5B
- Registration
- N28815 · registry record · serial AA5B0836
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT, SHORTLY AFTER TAKE-OFF, HE SMELLED SOMETHING HOT. A SCAN OF THE ENGINE INSTRUMENTS REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL PRESSURE. THE PILOT CONTINUED TO THE DESTINATION, SALISBURY; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND SUBSEQUENTLY SEIZED. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE OIL LINE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL COOLER TO THE ENGINE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE FITTING AT THE ENGINE. THE OIL LINE HAD BEEN REPLACED DURING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN APPROXIMATELY 14 HOURS SINCE THE OIL LINE WAS CHANGED.
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: 1,615 hours in all; 401 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,475 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,795 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 1994; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NC25 Gold Hill NC at 3:20 pm
- Destination: 6A6 NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from CLT, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.