Amateur-built AA5A accident near Marathon, Florida, December 18, 1987
On December 18, 1987 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built AA5A, registered CGRRP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marathon, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- December 18, 1987 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marathon, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA5A
- Registration
- CGRRP · no longer on the register · serial AA5A-0067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF APRX 400 FT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG QUIT SHORTLY AFTER SHE TURNED OFF THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWED DURING WHICH THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE, TREES, THEN CAME TO REST. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG & RELATED COMPONENTS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OF MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING TO A MECHANIC THE ENG WAS DEVELOPING POWER AT 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: 1,800 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,069 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 4, 1987; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MYEG Georgetown, Of
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from EYW, 39 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.