Cessna 182T and Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5 accident near Pearland, Texas, December 11, 2024
On December 11, 2024 at about 8:12 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 182T (N127SL) and Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5 (N5450L), were involved in the same accident near Pearland, Texas (Pearland Rgnl airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The AA-5 pilot’s failure to maintain separation from the 182T during approach and landing, which resulted in a ground collision during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the AA-5’s electrical system, which prevented the AA-5 pilot from communicating with other aircraft in the traffic pattern, and the AA-5 pilot’s poor judgment that the electrical system failure required an expedited landing when a preceding airplane occupied the runway.
The AA-5 pilot’s failure to maintain separation from the 182T during approach and landing, which resulted in a ground collision during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the AA-5’s electrical system, which prevented the AA-5 pilot from communicating with other aircraft in the traffic pattern, and the AA-5 pilot’s poor judgment that the electrical system failure required an expedited landing when a preceding airplane occupied the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 2024 · about 8:12 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Pearland, Texas · Pearland Rgnl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 182T, built 2003 · all 182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N127SL · registry record · serial 18281256
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5, built 1973 · all AA-5s on the register
- Registration
- N5450L · registry record · serial AA5-0350
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 182T final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the AA-5 “jump started” his airplane before departure and experienced a total electrical failure shortly after departure, resulting in his inability to communicate over the radio or extend the airplane’s flaps. While approaching the airport, the pilot of the AA-5 saw the 182T on final approach and followed it to the runway. As the 182T exited the runway, the AA-5 veered toward it and impacted the left side of the 182T, resulting in substantial damage to both airplanes. Video evidence showed the AA-5’s engine was operating normally during the approach and landing. The pilot of the AA-5 made no attempt to increase spacing between his airplane and the 182T or conduct a go-around. The pilot of the AA-5 stated that when he was faced with the failure of the airplane’s electrical system, he believed he had to get the airplane on the ground as soon as possible and “at all costs.”
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 NTSB's narrative for the Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the AA-5 “jump started” his airplane before departure and experienced a total electrical failure shortly after departure, resulting in his inability to communicate over the radio or extend the airplane’s flaps. While approaching the airport, the pilot of the AA-5 saw the 182T on final approach and followed it to the runway. As the 182T exited the runway, the AA-5 veered toward it and impacted the left side of the 182T, resulting in substantial damage to both airplanes. Video evidence showed the AA-5’s engine was operating normally during the approach and landing. The pilot of the AA-5 made no attempt to increase spacing between his airplane and the 182T or conduct a go-around. The pilot of the AA-5 stated that when he was faced with the failure of the airplane’s electrical system, he believed he had to get the airplane on the ground as soon as possible and “at all costs.”
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 for the Cessna 182T from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Runway incursion veh/AC/person during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot of other aircraft
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 15, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gulf Coast Helicopters INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14/3, 4,313 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KLVJ
Weather report (METAR): KLVJ 111953Z AUTO 34011G19KT 10SM CLR 16/M05 A3040 RMK AO2 SLP293 T01611050,M
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Electrical system malf/failure during enroute defining event
- Runway incursion veh/AC/person during landing
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › (general) › Failure other cases naming the electrical power
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 455.3 hours in all; 79.2 in this make and model; 8.5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 365.8 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 30, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,907.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GLS Galveston TX at 7:50 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Left side of Cessna
Photograph 2 – Tail section of Cessna
Photograph 3 – Side view of GrummanThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on November 14, 2025. 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, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - 182T Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statements | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Mor - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Video File | video | View Download |
| 7 | Cockpit Video Summary | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N127SL on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 182 Skylane 11,834 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- N5450L on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5 Traveler, Cheetah and Tiger 1,286 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER 4,222 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G 33 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Pearland Regional · nearest airport
- Scholes International AT Galveston · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,064 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,966 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN25LA059.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.