Amateur-built AA-5B accident near Lake Havasu Cit, Arizona, February 6, 1984
On February 6, 1984 at about 3:30 am local time, a amateur-built AA-5B, registered N81317, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Havasu Cit, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- February 6, 1984 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Lake Havasu Cit, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5B
- Registration
- N81317 · registry record · serial AA5B0495
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN CRUISE AT 8,500 FT MSL THE PROPELLER ASS'Y FORWARD OF THE MOUNTING FLANGE SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. DURING THE FORCED LANDING ROLLOUT THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE. AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 82-27-01 CALLED FOR INSPECTION OF THE PROP HUB AND MOUNTING BOLT HOLE AREAS FOR CRACKS. NO RECORD OF COMPLIANCE WAS FOUND. AN ANNUAL MAINT INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON 6-8-83. THE PROP WAS NOT RECOVERED. THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE BROKEN MOUNTING BOLTS SHOWED SIGNS OF FAILURE DUE TO OVERSTRESS.
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
- Flight time: 980 hours in all; 895 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 952 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 992 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 101 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4E0 Taylor AZ at 2:00 am
- Destination: LHU Lake Havasu Cit AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N81317 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.