Amateur-built AA5B accident near Block Island, Rhode Island, July 5, 2003
On July 5, 2003 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built AA5B, registered N1966L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Block Island, Rhode Island (Block Island State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, after a loss of engine power as reported by the pilot. Factors in this accident were the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and the crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2003 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Block Island, Rhode Island · Block Island State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA5B
- Registration
- N1966L · registry record · serial 1220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was in the traffic pattern to land on runway 28, a 2,501-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot reported that when he turned onto the final approach, the engine began "coughing and sputtering." He then "stretched" the landing to make the runway. The airplane struck the runway hard, bounced, and the engine then gained full power. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and struck three parked airplanes, which were located about 1,200 feet from the approach end of the runway, and 500 feet to the right of it. A passenger seated in the right front seat stated that the airplane was close to the runway, less than "100 feet above the ground," when he heard the engine "cough or sputter." He observed the pilot pull the throttle back and the airplane struck the runway "hard." The pilot pushed the throttle in, and the engine seemed to "rev up." The airplane then departed the right side of the runway. Another passenger stated that it seemed like the engine became quieter just before landing, "almost simultaneously," with the airplane contacting the runway. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions. Two weather observations taken at the airport around the time of the accident, reported that the winds were from 240 degrees at 15 knots, and from 250 degrees at 15 knots, with 17 knot gusts.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 584 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 510 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 18, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,543 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 2003; 20 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: FOK W. Hampton Bch. NY at 2:20 pm
- Destination: BID Block Island RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,501 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from BID
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC03LA150.