Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5 accident near Fort Worth, Texas, November 8, 2023
On November 8, 2023 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 1975 Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5, registered N9568U, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Fort Worth, Texas (Hicks Airfield). 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 distraction of the pilot during the taxi, resulting in a ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 2023 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · Hicks Airfield · 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-5 A, built 1975 · all AA-5s on the register
- Registration
- N9568U · registry record · serial AA5A-0068
- 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 after landing at the airport, he was taxing the airplane on the dry asphalt. During the taxi, he observed a motorcycle on the taxiway coming toward the airplane. While focusing on the motorcycle, the right wing impacted several garbage cans, the airplane turned to the right, and impacted a hangar door. The airplane came to rest upright, and the pilot was able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. This was the pilot’s first visit to the airport, and he reported he did not visually observe the garbage cans during the taxi, as they were in an area that was shadowed from a hangar. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Chart Supplement for the airport, the remarks section states, “uncontrolled vehicle tfc inv of hangars and on twys.”
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,806 hours in all; 471 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 778 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 3, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,123 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines O-320-E2G (piston); 2,123 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from KAFW, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KAFW 081353Z 18013G22KT 10SM FEW015 20/17 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP095 T02000172
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 13, 2023. 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, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photograhs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Chart Supplement - T67 | 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.