Grumman AA5B accident near Benton Harbor, Michigan, July 14, 1986
On July 14, 1986 at about 11:15 am local time, a Grumman AA5B, registered N81259, was destroyed in an accident near Benton Harbor, Michigan. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1986 · about 11:15 am local time
- Place
- Benton Harbor, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA5B
- Registration
- N81259 · registry record · serial AA5B0477
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 09. PASSENGER REMEMBERS THE PILOT STARTING TO TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT WHEN THE WINGS WENT PERPENDICULAR TO THE HORIZON AND THE GROUND CAME RUSHING UP. TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A BENT PUSH ROD AND A SPLIT PUSH ROD SHROUD ASSEMBLY.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI86FA170.