Grumman AA-5B accident near Manchester, Massachusetts, September 28, 1985
On September 28, 1985 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5B, registered N88SJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manchester, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people 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
- September 28, 1985 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Manchester, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5B
- Registration
- N88SJ · no longer on the register · serial AA5B1026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1200 FT THE ENGINE RPM DECREASEED FROM CRUISE SETTING TO BETWEEN 900-1100 RPM. THE ACFT WAS OVERWATER AND 2 MILES FROM THE COASTLINE. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND HE STARTED A DESCENT TOWARD LAND. THE PLT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO GLIDE TO LAND AND A DITCH IN THE WATER OCCURRED. DURING THE DESCENT THE PLT STATED HE PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY CHECK OF THE ENG. HE NOTICED FUEL PRESSURE WAS SATISFACTORY. HE DID NOT USE CARBURETOR HT. A POST-ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ENG DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. CARBURETOR ICING CONDITION PREVAILED AT THE TIME.
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: 526 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 479 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 742 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1984; 114 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: B09 Tewksbruy MA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:33 pm from BVY, 7 miles away
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.
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.