Amateur-built AA-5A and Beech BH-125 accident near Houston, Texas, June 29, 1983
On June 29, 1983 at about 7:47 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built AA-5A (N9844U) and Beech BH-125 (N125E), were involved in the same accident near Houston, Texas (Hobby airport). 2 people were killed; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- June 29, 1983 · about 7:47 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Hobby · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built AA-5A
- Registration
- N9844U · registry record · serial 0244
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech BH-125
- Registration
- N125E · registry record · serial 25110
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built AA-5A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GRUMMON AMERICAN AA-5A, N9844U, HAD JUST LANDED. WHILE TAXIING, THE AIRCREW STOPPED SHORT OF RWY 13R AS BEECHCRAFT- HAWKER BH-125, N125E, WAS TAKING OFF. THE RATED STUDENT IN N125E, WHO WAS ON A TRAINING FLT, WAS AT THE CONTROLS & BEGANTHE TAKEOFF. THE POWER-UP & TAKEOFF ROLL WERE NORMAL. ROTATION WAS DESCRIBED AS NORMAL & THE L THROTTLE WAS RETARDED TO IDLE AT 110 KTS, AS PREBRIEFED, TO SIMULATE AN ENG FAILURE. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (IP) STATED THAT THE LIFT-OFF APPEARED NORMAL & DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS GOOD UP TO AN ALT OF 10 TO 20 FT. THE L WING THEN STARTED TO DROP & THE STUDENT APPLIEDR AILERON, BUT DID NOT STOP THE ROLL. THE IP BEGAN ADVANCING THE L THROTTLE, BUT DID NOT GET ON THE FLT CONTROLS. THE L WING HIT THE RWY & THE ACFT VEERED LEFT & SETTLED TO THE GROUND. AT IMPACT, BOTH MAIN GEAR MOUNTS FAILED, A FUEL TANK RUPTURED & A FIRE STARTED. N125E THEN SLID INTO N9844U & BOTH ACFT BURNED. BH-125 FLT MAN RCMNDS IP FOLLOW THRU, MAX BANK 5 DEG & CAUTIONS NEGATIVE WXVANING IN X-WND. BH-125 RUDDER BIAS ENGAGED. AA-5A CREW THROWN OUT, SEATBELTS UNLATCHED
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 Beech BH-125 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5A, N9844U, HAD JUST LANDED. WHILE TAXING, THE AIRCREW STOPPED SHORT OF RWY 13R AS BEECHCRAFT. HAWKER BH-125, N125E, WAS TAKING OFF. THE RATED STUDENT IN N125E, WHO WAS ON A TRAINING FLT, WAS AT THE CONTROLS & BEGANTHE TAKEOFF. THE POWER-UP & TAKEOFF ROLL WERE NORMAL. ROTATION WAS DESCRIBED AS NORMAL & THE L THROTTLE WAS RETARDED TO IDLE AT 110 KTS, AS PREBRIEFED, TO SIMULATE AN ENG FAILURE. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (IP) STATED THAT THE LIFT OFF APPEARED NORMAL & DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS GOOD UP TO AN ALT OF 10 TO 20 FT. THE L WING THEN STARTED TO DROP & THE STUDENT APPLIEDR AILERON, BUT DID NOT STOP THE ROLL. THE IP BEGAN ADVANCING THE L THROTTLE, BUT DID NOT GET ON THE FLT CONTROLS. THE L WING HIT THE RWY & THE ACFT VEERED LEFT & SETTLED TO THE GROUND. AT IMPACT, BOTH MAIN GEAR MOUNTS FAILED, A FUEL TANK RUPTURED & A FIRE STARTED. N125E THEN SLID INTO N9844U & BOTH ACFT BURNED. BH-125 FLT MAN RCMNDS IP FOLLOW THRU, MAX BANK 5 DEG & CAUTIONS NEGATIVE WXVANING IN X-WND. BH-125 RUDDER BIAS ENGAGED. AA-5A CREW THROWN OUT, SEATBELTS UNLATCHED
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 amateur-built AA-5A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 401 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 976 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1983; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:48 pm from HOU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Beech BH-125 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,500 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 9,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,283 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 13, 1983; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 21,200 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls-Royce VIPER 522 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: BPT Beaumont TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 13R, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.