American AA5-B accident near Valentine, Nebraska, May 24, 1989
On May 24, 1989, a American AA5-B, registered N45278, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valentine, Nebraska (Merritt Dam airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DELAYED INITIATING A GO-AROUND AFTER NOT ATTAINING A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE TREES OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1989
- Place
- Valentine, Nebraska · Merritt Dam · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American AA5-B · all AA5-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N45278 · registry record · serial 1138
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A 1500 FOOT SOD STRIP DURING HIGH TEMPERATURE AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS, THE PLT SAID HE WAS UNHAPPY WITH HIS FIRST ATTEMPT TO LAND AND ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES, TEARING OFF THE LEFT WING, THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN INVERTED.
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: 360 hours in all; 360 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,560 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1988; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OFK Norfolk NE at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 5NE7 Valentine NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 1,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:48 pm from VTN, 25 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.