Grumman AA-5A accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, December 1, 1985
On December 1, 1985 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5A, registered N991OU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- December 1, 1985 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5A
- Registration
- N991OU · no longer on the register · serial AA5A0310
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF ROLL THE ACFT USED OVER TWICE THE NORMAL DISTANCE TO RWY TO BECOME AIRBORNE. AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, THE STALL WARNING SOUNDED, AND CONTINUED TO SOUND UNTIL THE FORCED LANDING WHEN THE PLT SAID HE COULDNOT MAINTAIN ALT. THE ACFT CONTACTED A ROAD SIGN APRX 1/2 MILE FROM THE RWY, PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN ON THE HIGHWAY MEDIAN, AND LATER COMING TO REST OFF A HIGHWAY EXIT. THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE WINGS AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WERE COVERED WITHROUGH ICE WHICH THE PLT STATED HE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE PRIOR TO FLT. THE PLT ALSO STATED THAT THE ICE ON THE SURFACE OF THE AIRFOILS HAD NO BEARING ON THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Flight time: 1,151 hours in all; 171 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,030 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 1985; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3V5 Fort Collins CO at 6:20 pm
- Destination: CBF Council Bluffs IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.