Grumman AA5 accident near Oakland, Maryland, July 20, 1991
On July 20, 1991 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Grumman AA5, registered N9599L, was destroyed in an accident near Oakland, Maryland (Greater Gortner airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1991 · about 7:45 pm local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Oakland, Maryland · Greater Gortner · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA5
- Registration
- N9599L · no longer on the register · serial AA50599
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS GIVING A DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT TO THE PASSENGER WHO WAS A PROSPECTIVE BUYER. DURING THE APPROACH TO THE AIRFIELD THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ABOUT 700 FEET SHORT OF AND ALIGNED WITH THE RUNWAY. THE ACCOUNTS OF THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE NOT ASCERTAINED; HOWEVER, RESCUE PERSONNEL REPORTED THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE STALLED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE FLAPS WERE FULL DOWN.
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: 158 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2G4 Oakland MD
- Destination: 2MD8 Oakland MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from MGW, 1 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9599L: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Grumman 442 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3G 27,311 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Greater Gortner Airport · nearest airport
- Garrett County · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Maryland 836 since 1982 · 110 in the last ten years
- Maryland 2,348 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/BFO91LA070.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.