Grumman AA-5 accident near Ormond Beach, Florida, August 10, 1994
On August 10, 1994 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5, registered N1392R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ormond Beach, Florida (Ormond Beach airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER MAINTENANCE WORK DONE ON THE CARBURETOR BY A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE DIRT AND MOISTURE THAT CONTAMINATED THE CARBURETOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1994 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ormond Beach, Florida · Ormond Beach
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5
- Registration
- N1392R · no longer on the register · serial 0792
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND FELL TO THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM REVEALED A DISTORTED SEAL AT THE CARBURETOR FLANGE THAT ALLOWED DIRT AND MOISTURE TO ENTER THE CARBURETOR. THE CARBURETOR HAD BEEN REMOVED AND WORKED ON BY A LOCAL MECHANIC 2 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,759 hours in all; 159 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 2,373 as pilot in command; 2,141 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORM at 9:00 pm
- Destination: ORM FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 4,004 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from DAB, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.