Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA 5 accident near Southbridge, Massachusetts, July 13, 2015
On July 13, 2015 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1975 Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA 5, registered N1356R, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Southbridge, Massachusetts (Southbridge Muni airport). 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 pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff with insufficient runway remaining, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2015 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Southbridge, Massachusetts · Southbridge Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA 5 UNDESIGNAT, built 1975 · all AA 5s on the register
- Registration
- N1356R · no longer on the register · serial AA5-0756
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot reported that, during takeoff from a 3,501-ft-long asphalt runway, a gust of wind yawed the airplane left at rotation and it became airborne. The pilot corrected for the yaw and was able to maintain runway heading; however, he chose to reject the takeoff rather than trying to continue. The airplane touched down and the pilot applied heavy braking, but was unable to stop the airplane before it continued off the runway and impacted trees and brush at the perimeter of the airport. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The reported wind at a nearby airport about the time of the accident was variable at 4 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,623 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 191 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 21,323 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 9, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,093 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 2015; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 940 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3B0 Southbridge MA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 3B0 Southbridge MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 3,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from KORH, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.