Grumman AA-5A accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, October 5, 1991
On October 5, 1991 at about 11:17 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5A, registered N9694U, was destroyed in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona (Pullman airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE APPROPRIATE AIRSPEED DURING THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 1991 · about 11:17 pm local time
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · Pullman · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5A
- Registration
- N9694U · no longer on the register · serial AA5A-0060
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS CALCULATED TO BE IN EXCESS OF 9,800 FEET. NUMEROUS GROUND WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, CLIMBED TO ABOUT 30 FEET ABOVE RUNWAY 21 AND FLEW ALONG ITS 7,000 FOOT LENGTH WITHOUT GAINING ANY ADDITIONAL ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO DESCEND IN THE SAME RELATIVE NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE INTO THE GROUND ABOUT 100 YARDS BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. A POST CRASH FIRE STARTED AFTER THE IMPACT SEQUENCE AND CONSUMED THE AIRCRAFT. ALL OF THE WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING STRONG ENGINE SOUNDS DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE FROM THE TAKEOFF TO GROUND IMPACT.
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: 1,532 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,430 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1991; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: P52 Cottonwood AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 6,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:18 pm from FLG, 1 miles away
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.