Grumman AA5B accident near Morristown, New Jersey, April 30, 1988
On April 30, 1988 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Grumman AA5B, registered N4557Q, 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
A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO IMPROPER TECHNIQUE AFTER A BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE SECOND PILOT ALSO ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE SITUATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 1988 · about 7:15 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
- Grumman AA5B
- Registration
- N4557Q · no longer on the register · serial AA5B-123A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A BOUNCED LANDING ON RUNWAY 5 WITH WINDS FROM 300 AT 15 - 20 KNOTS. THERE WERE TWO PRIVATE PILOTS ON BOARD AND BOTH ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION WITH ONE WORKING THE POWER AND THE OTHER ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE BOUNCE. THE AIRCRAFT FELL OFF ON A WING AND CRASHED.
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: 70 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,405 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TEB Teterboro NJ at 8:15 pm
- Destination: MMU Morristown NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.