Grumman AA-5B accident near Boynton Beach, Florida, August 2, 1986
On August 2, 1986 at about 1:48 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5B, registered N45529, was destroyed in an accident near Boynton Beach, Florida. 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
- August 2, 1986 · about 1:48 pm local time
- Place
- Boynton Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5B
- Registration
- N45529 · no longer on the register · serial AA 581200
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN ABOUT 4 MILES OFF SHORE IN ABOUT 600 FT OF WATER AFTER ALLEGEDLY SUSTAINING ENG FAILURE. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS FULL OF FUEL PRIOR TO DEPARTURE & THAT NO WATER OR OTHER FOREIGN MATTER WAS DETECTED IN THE FUEL SYS DURING THE PREFLT INSP. A CFI WHO FLEW THE ACFT IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE LAST FLT STATED THE ACFT PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE PLT HAS DITCHED TWO OTHER ACFT ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS & WITHHELD THAT INFO FROM THE OPERATOR WHO RENTED HIM THE ACFT EVEN THOUGH THE RENTAL INFO CARD SPECIFICALLY MADE REFERENCE TO ANY PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS. THE PLT FAILED TO MEET WITH THE FAA AFTER THEY REQUESTED FOR HIM TO DO SO & NTSB FORM 6120.1, PLT OPERATOR ACFT ACCIDENT REPORT WAS NOT RECEIVED BY THE NTSB. EFFORTS TO MAKE FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE PLT BY THE NTSB, FAA & THE OWNER OF THE ACFT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Ft. Lauderdale FL at 1:35 pm
- Destination: CQI Merritt Island FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:49 pm from PMP, 20 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.