Amateur-built AA-5 accident near Cherry Valley, New York, August 12, 2000
On August 12, 2000, a amateur-built AA-5, registered N9570L, was destroyed in an accident near Cherry Valley, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to continue the flight into deteriorating weather, which resulted in his failure to maintain control of the airplane. Factors in the accident were the dark night, fog, low ceiling, and the pilot's inadequate preflight planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2000
- Place
- Cherry Valley, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5
- Registration
- N9570L · no longer on the register · serial AA5-0570
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The day before the accident the pilot purchased the airplane. The next day, he departed on a cross-country flight to ferry the airplane home. On the flight prior to the accident, the pilot landed at the wrong airport without a clearance. Once on the ground, the pilot apologized to the tower controller, and advised the controller that he was out of fuel. The airplane was serviced and then departed on the accident flight. A witness at the accident site heard the airplane fly low over his house. He then heard an increase in engine rpm, which last about 2 seconds, and ended with a 'thud.' Weather at the site during the time of the accident was rainy, foggy, and dark, with the base of the clouds about treetop level. The pilot had no recent night flight experience, and did not hold an instrument rating. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions that would have contributed to 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 336 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ITH Ithaca NY at 11:30 pm
- Destination: SCH Schenectady NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.