Grumman AA-5B accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey, July 7, 1983
On July 7, 1983 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5B, registered N31ER, was substantially damaged in an accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey. 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
- July 7, 1983 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Old Bridge, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5B
- Registration
- N31ER · registry record · serial AA5B-0860
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT TAKEOFF AND CLIMB TO 600 FT WERE ROUTINE. WHEN HE STARTED A LEFT TURN THE ENG 'BEGAN TO LOSE POWER.'THE PLT CONTINUED THE LEFT TURN BACK TOWARD THE ARPT BUT THE ENG DID NOT RESTART AND THE ACFT STUCK TREES ABOUT 1 MI SHORT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED ABOUT 5 GAL OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK. THE RIGHT TANK WAS REPORTED, SOME RESIDUAL FUEL WAS NOTED IN THE TANK.
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: 2,221 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,696 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 1983; 998 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LDJ Linden NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from EWR, 23 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N31ER the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.