Grumman AA-5A accident near Honesdale, Pennsylvania, January 10, 1988
On January 10, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5A, registered N26869, was substantially damaged in an accident near Honesdale, Pennsylvania (Cherry Ridge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- January 10, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Honesdale, Pennsylvania · Cherry Ridge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5A
- Registration
- N26869 · no longer on the register · serial AA-5A0776
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 35 AT CHERRY RIDGE AIRPORT, HONESDALE, PENNSYLVANIA, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE POWER LOSS AND CRASHED ABOUT 200 FEET OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE TANKS. THE PLT FAILED TO FILE AN ACC REPORT. THE ACFT WAS FOUND IN A WOODED SWAMP A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE RWY AND TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY CENTERLINE. THE ENG WAS TEST RUN AFTER THE ACC AND RAN NORMALLY. THE ACFT WAS PLACARDED FOR USE OF AUTO FUEL.
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: 140 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,372 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,270 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.