Grumman AA5B accident near Beachwood, Ohio, September 11, 1990
On September 11, 1990 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Grumman AA5B, registered N74242, was destroyed in an accident near Beachwood, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO AN IMPROPER ENGINE OVERHAUL PERFORMED BY UNQUALIFIED PERSONS. THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1990 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Beachwood, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA5B
- Registration
- N74242 · no longer on the register · serial AA5B-0171
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE ENGINE FAILED AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF FLIGHT, AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. DURING THE RESULTANT FORCED LANDING ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND AND A MOVING AUTOMOBILE. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED ACROSS THE ROADWAY, INTO A GUARDRAIL AND FLIPPED AROUND BEFORE IT CAME TO A REST. POST-IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE AFT OF THE FIREWALL. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE AIRPLANE'S FIRST FLIGHT AFTER ENGINE OVERHAUL. ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED MASSIVE INTERNAL DISINTEGRATION. THE OVERHAUL WAS NOT PERFORMED BY A QUALIFIED PERSON AND WAS NOT PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS/GUIDANCE.
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: 2,101 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2,011 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 29G Ravenna OH at 7:00 pm
- Destination: CGF Richmond OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Sky: broken clouds
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from CGF, 30 miles away
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.