Amateur-built AA-5B accident near Morristown, New Jersey, November 16, 1983
On November 16, 1983 at about 12:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-5B, registered N28271, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morristown, New Jersey (Morristown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- November 16, 1983 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Morristown, New Jersey · Morristown
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5B
- Registration
- N28271 · no longer on the register · serial AA5B0987
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
EARLIER IN THE EVENING, THE PLT HAD TAKEN OFF WITH 3 PASSENGERS ON BOARD. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE ADVISED THE TOWER THAT THE ENG WAS NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER. HE REMAINED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN & LANDED, THEN TAXIED TO THE RAMP. LATER, THE PLT MADE A 2ND TAKEOFF WITH 1 PASSENGER ON BOARD. AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, HE ELECTED TO ABORT DUE TO A REPORTED POWER LOSS. THE ACFT HAD PASSED THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY & SETTLED IN A MARSHLAND. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES. A TEST RUN OF THE ENG WAS THEN MADE & IT PERFORMED WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS.
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: 270 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 554 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMU Morristown NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.