Amateur-built AA-5A accident near Keytesville, Missouri, August 15, 1983
On August 15, 1983 at about 1:15 am local time, a amateur-built AA-5A, registered N9703U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Keytesville, Missouri. 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
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 15, 1983 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Keytesville, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5A
- Registration
- N9703U · no longer on the register · serial AA5A 0103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER DEPARTURE HE CLIMBED TO 2000 FEET MSL, ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE FOR 2500 RPM AND LEANED THE MIXTURE FOR CRUISE FLIGHT. THE ENGINE SLOWED TO 2000 RPM SO HE SELECTED THE OPPOSITE FUEL TANK, MOVED THE MIXTURE TO FULL RICH AND APPLIED FULL THROTTLE. HE DID NOT APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT. THE RPM DID NOT INCREASE AND THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND SO HE DECIDED TO LAND. AS HE APPROACHED THE OPEN FIELD HE HAD SELECTED FOR LANDING, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED LOWER AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN TO THE GROUND, IMPACTING A CORN FIELD WHILE MOVING REARWARD.
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: 657 hours in all; 645 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 620 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 180 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 3, 1983; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E-2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COU Columbia MO
- Destination: BZK Brookfield MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.