Grumman AA-5B accident near Eagle Lake, Texas, April 25, 1987
On April 25, 1987 at about 2:58 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5B, registered N28846, was destroyed in an accident near Eagle Lake, Texas (Eagle Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- April 25, 1987 · about 2:58 pm local time
- Place
- Eagle Lake, Texas · Eagle Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5B
- Registration
- N28846 · no longer on the register · serial AA5B0850
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON APRIL 25,1987 A GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA5B, N28846, IMPACTED THE TERRAIN NEAR EAGLE LAKE, TEXAS. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HER HUSBAND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM KERRVILLE, TEXAS TO HOUSTON, TEXAS. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A MEDIUM TO STEEP LEFT TURN AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN BEFORE RECOVERY COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 844 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 1987; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fletcher Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: ERV Kerrvile TX
- Destination: HUB Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from HOU, 54 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.