Grumman AA-5A accident near Addison, Texas, November 19, 1983
On November 19, 1983 at about 5:20 am local time, a Grumman AA-5A, registered N26242, was substantially damaged in an accident near Addison, Texas (Addison airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was 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
- November 19, 1983 · about 5:20 am local time
- Place
- Addison, Texas · Addison · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5A
- Registration
- N26242 · no longer on the register · serial AA5A-0438
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING AN ILS APCH TO LAND, THE ENG LOST POWER WHEN THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 1/4 MI FROM THE THRESHOLD. HE STATED THAT HE 'CONFIRMED MIXTURE RICH, CARB HEAT ON, FUEL PUMP ON, FUEL FULLEST TANK.' THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE ACFT WENT THRU A FENCE, CROSSED A SUBURBAN STREET & DROPPED INTO A DITCH. A POST-CRASH EXAM REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY, THE LEFT TANK HAD APRX 2 INCHES OF FUEL REMAINING & THE FUEL SELECTOR HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. IN A PRELIMINARY PHONE CONVERSATION, THE PLT INDICATED A SUSPICION OF CARB ICE, BUT THIS WAS NOT VERIFIED. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 72 & 62 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROPABILITY CHARTS, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS CARB ICE CONDITIONS AT GLIDE POWER, IF CARB HEAT HAD NOT BEEN USED.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 369 hours in all; 128 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 302 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,378 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 1983; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ARG Walnut Ridge AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 15, 7,199 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:20 am from DAL, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.