Cessna 182 and Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5B accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts, September 19, 2025
On September 19, 2025 at about 11:03 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 182 (N2383X) and Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5B (N81317), were involved in the same accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts (Plymouth Muni airport). 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 low wing airplane pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout and his decision to activate the portable ADS-B receiver while taxiing, which resulted in a ground collision.
The low wing airplane pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout and his decision to activate the portable ADS-B receiver while taxiing, which resulted in a ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2025 · about 11:03 am local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Massachusetts · Plymouth Muni · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 182 H, built 1965 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N2383X · registry record · serial 18256283
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5B NO SERIES, built 1977 · all AA-5Bs on the register
- Registration
- N81317 · registry record · serial AA5B0495
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 182 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a high wing airplane was taxiing from the hangar area to the runway for departure from the non-tower-controlled airport. The pilot of low wing airplane was also planning to depart from the same airport and began to taxi. As the low wing airplane approached an intersection, he did not see any approaching traffic and then looked inside to turn on a portable ADS-B receiver. Several seconds later, the low wing airplane’s propeller contacted the right wing of the of the high wing airplane, substantially damaging the wing. Both pilots reported that their were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of their respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the low wing airplane also stated that he should have looked for traffic a second time during the taxi and should have turned on the portable ADS-B receiver before starting the taxi.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a high wing airplane was taxiing from the hangar area to the runway for departure from the non-tower-controlled airport. The pilot of low wing airplane was also planning to depart from the same airport and began to taxi. As the low wing airplane approached an intersection, he did not see any approaching traffic and then looked inside to turn on a portable ADS-B receiver. Several seconds later, the low wing airplane’s propeller contacted the right wing of the of the high wing airplane, substantially damaging the wing. Both pilots reported that their were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of their respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the low wing airplane also stated that he should have looked for traffic a second time during the taxi and should have turned on the portable ADS-B receiver before starting the taxi.
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 for the Cessna 182 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 470 hours in all; 229 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 428 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 304 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 257 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 11, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,393 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 am from PYM
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPYM 191052Z AUTO 28004KT 10SM CLR 14/13 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP126 T01440133=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,681 hours in all; 1,084 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,651 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 25, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,230 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 2024; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 2,230 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on June 17, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - N81317 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Additional Details - N81317 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 - N81317 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - N2383X | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Additional Details - N2383X | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Passenger Statement - N2383X | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Annotated Image Provided by Pilot of N2383X | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 - N2383X | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Plymouth Municipal Airport (Pym), Plymouth, Massachusetts Common Traffic Advisory Frequency Audio Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Memorandum for Record - Airport Traffic Information | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA25LA356.