Grumman AA-5B accident near Leavenworth, Indiana, November 2, 1987
On November 2, 1987 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5B, registered N28483, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leavenworth, Indiana. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 1987 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Leavenworth, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5B
- Registration
- N28483 · registry record · serial AA5B0637
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A 'BUMPY' GRASS PRIVATE STRIP. THE PILOT STATED HE DISCUSSED ABORTED TAKEOFF PROCEDURES WITH THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER WHO WAS SITTING IN THE RIGHT SEAT AND STATED IF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REACH TAKEOFF SPEED BY MID-FIELD HE WOULD ABORT THE TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REACH TAKEOFF SPEED PRIOR TO MID-FIELD AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE PILOT THEN NOTICED THERE WASN'T ANY GRASS AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT IN TIME TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH A FENCE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 931 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 720 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,256 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1987; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Car Boys INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Leavenworth IN at 9:15 pm
- Destination: JVY Jeffersonville IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,400 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 am from LOU, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
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.