Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA 5B accident near Willow Park, Texas, January 21, 2014
On January 21, 2014 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1978 Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA 5B, registered N28578, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Willow Park, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper reinstallation of the propeller assembly, which resulted in the subsequent in-flight separation of the propeller.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2014 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Willow Park, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA 5B, built 1978 · all AA 5Bs on the register
- Registration
- N28578 · no longer on the register · serial AA5B0693
- 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 he heard a loud noise during cruise flight and that the airplane then started losing altitude. He subsequently conducted a forced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident examination revealed that the propeller assembly had separated from the engine propeller flange. Four of the six propeller bolts were intact, consistent with the bolts backing out before the propeller separated. The remaining two bolts were unable to transfer the loads from the propeller, and they subsequently failed. The pilot reported that the propeller was removed during the most recent annual inspection, which was completed about 1 year before the accident. The airplane had accumulated about 14 hours flight time since the inspection. Although the airplane maintenance logbook entry for the inspection did not indicate that the propeller was removed or reinstalled, it is likely that the propeller assembly was improperly reinstalled at some point, which resulted in its subsequent in-flight separation.
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
What happened, in order
- Part(s) separation from AC during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Propeller system › Propeller hub section › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Propeller system › Propeller assembly › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 711 hours in all; 711 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 711 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 24, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 32,055 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 2014; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,401 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 32,055 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F50 Whitney TX at 8:45 pm
- Destination: F50 Whitney TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MWL, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on October 3, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Logbook – Excerpts | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Aircraft Maintenance Logbook – Excerpts | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Maintenance Logbook – Excerpts | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 1 – Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 2 – Propeller and Spinner | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 3 – Propeller Flange | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 4 – Propeller Bolts | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.