Grumman AA-5B accident near South Harpswell, Maine, September 4, 1989
On September 4, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5B, registered N4554L, was substantially damaged in an accident near South Harpswell, Maine (Farr Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A DELAY BY THE PILOT IN ABORTING A LATE GO-AROUND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE FOR LANDING, HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE SUBSEQUENT BOUNCED LANDING, AND TREE(S) NEAR THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- South Harpswell, Maine · Farr Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5B
- Registration
- N4554L · no longer on the register · serial AA5B-1211
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING A LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED A FEW TIMES, THEN HE ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY. HE STATED THAT AFTER THE ACFT HAD CONTINUED ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY, HE SAW THAT IT 'WAS NOT REACTING TO THE GO-AROUND AS NEEDED.' THEREFORE, HE 'CUT (THE) POWER, GOT (THE) AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND & STEERED TO THE OVERRUN.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT HIT A TREE & CROSSED A ROADWAY BEFORE STOPPING.
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: 203 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Star Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: ME33 at 9:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.