Grumman AA-5 accident near Saint James, Michigan, September 1, 1995
On September 1, 1995 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5, registered N9528L, was destroyed in an accident near Saint James, Michigan (Welke airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's operation of the airplane with an inoperative fuel gage and the leaking fuel line fitting, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing. The inoperative fuel gage was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1995 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Saint James, Michigan · Welke · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5
- Registration
- N9528L · no longer on the register · serial AA5-0528
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE LEFT FUEL GAGE WAS NOT WORKING AND BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE FULL PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. HE DID NOT LEAN THE ENGINE DURING THE 2.7 HOUR FLIGHT. THE PILOT INITIATED A GO-AROUND DURING AN ATTEMPTED LANDING. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 50 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AT THE DEPARTURE END AND 'SLID INTO THE TREES.' EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO USABLE FUEL REMAINED IN THE FUEL TANKS AND THE FUEL LINES WERE EMPTY. ABOUT 3/8 INCH OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL. A FUEL LINE FITTING WAS LEAKING NEAR THE FUEL PUMP.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 102 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 18, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HAI Three Rivers MI at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,500 ft by 140 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.