Amateur-built AA-5B accident near Demotte, Indiana, June 8, 1999
On June 8, 1999 at about 11:00 am local time, a amateur-built AA-5B, registered N3791Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Demotte, Indiana (Demotte airport). 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 pilot's misjudging distance/speed resulting in an overrun. A contributing factor was the wet condition of the turf runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1999 · about 11:00 am local time
- Place
- Demotte, Indiana · Demotte · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5B
- Registration
- N3791Z · registry record · serial AA5B-1254
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot conducted a local flight. On landing he allowed the airplane to touch down approximately 1,000 feet down the 2,600 foot runway. He was unable to stop the airplane on the remaining runway due to the wet turf runway. The pilot told investigators that he did not realize the runway was wet prior to the accident. An examination of the airplane after the accident failed to reveal any pre-existing anomalies.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,040 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 943 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 562 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1999; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3C0 at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.