Amateur-built AA-5B accident near Auburn, California, April 10, 1990
On April 10, 1990, a amateur-built AA-5B, registered N28277, was substantially damaged in an accident near Auburn, California (Auburn Muni airport). 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
PILOT FAILED TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT AND THE REMEDIAL ACTION WAS IMPROPER. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO PORPOISE DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1990
- Place
- Auburn, California · Auburn Muni · 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
- N28277 · registry record · serial AA5B0992
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT MIDFIELD ON THE 3100-FOOT-LONG RUNWAY. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IT BEGAN TO PORPOISE. THE AIRCRAFT OVERRAN THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A BERM.
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: 840 hours in all; 532 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 627 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: HHR Hawthorne CA at 9:50 pm
- Destination: AUN Auburn Muni CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.