Grumman AA5B accident near Monte Vista, Colorado, June 27, 1990
On June 27, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Grumman AA5B, registered N28421, was destroyed in an accident near Monte Vista, Colorado (Monte Vista airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S PREMATURE ROTATION AND LIFTOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Monte Vista, Colorado · Monte Vista
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA5B
- Registration
- N28421 · registry record · serial AA5B0604
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS FLYING AN ORIENTATION FLIGHT WITH THREE PASSENGERS. THE COMPUTED DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 11,000 FEET. HE SAID THE PLANE SEEMED SLUGGISH DURING GROUND RUN. HE SAID HE LIFTED OFF AT 70 MPH, FLEW INTO GROUND EFFECT, BUT COULD NOT ACCELERATE TO CLIMB SPEED. HE SAID THE PLANE SETTLED BACK ONTO THE 6,000 FOOT RUNWAY AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE IT ATTAINED 5 FEET AGL AND REMAINED ALOFT. HE SAID HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT THE PLANE STRUCK A FENCE 150 FEET BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THEN A GRAVEL ROAD AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE WRECKAGE WAS DESTROYED IN THE POSTACCIDENT FIRE. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE SEEMED TO LIFT OFF BEFORE ACHIEVING FLYING SPEED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,900 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MVI at 6:25 pm
- Destination: MVI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 6,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 30,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:28 pm from ALS, 15 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.