Grumman AA-1B accident near Ocala, Florida, July 4, 1993
On July 4, 1993 at about 1:06 pm local time, a Grumman AA-1B, registered N8962L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocala, Florida (Ocala Municipal 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
PREMATURE LIFT OFF BY THE PILOT DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1993 · about 1:06 pm local time
- Place
- Ocala, Florida · Ocala Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1B
- Registration
- N8962L · registry record · serial AA1B-0412
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED AND DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE SHUDDERED AS IF IT WOULD FALL APART. THE SHUDDERING STOPPED WHEN HE DECREASED THE ANGLE OF ATTACK; AND THE ENGINE DID RESPOND TO THROTTLE INPUT. HE AGAIN INITIATED A CLIMB AND THE SHUDDERING STARTED AGAIN. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND WHILE MANEUVERING TO AVOID OBSTACLES PAST THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND LANDED HARD ON THE GRASS. THE NOSE AND RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEARS COLLAPSED. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE SHUDDERING WAS SIMILAR TO THAT ENCOUNTERED WHILE PERFORMING STALLS AND THAT HE DID NOT HEAR ANY UNUSUAL ENGINE SOUNDS. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CHECKED FOR WATER; NONE WAS FOUND. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: 900 hours in all; 6 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,137 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 23, 1992; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,906 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from OCF
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.