Grumman AA-5B accident near Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1990
On April 29, 1990 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5B, registered N74312, was destroyed in an accident near Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE (OR INABILITY) TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1990 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5B
- Registration
- N74312 · no longer on the register · serial 3960104
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED ON A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WITHOUT FILING A FLIGHT PLAN OR OBTAINING AN FAA WEATHER BRIEFING. DURING FLIGHT, HE ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON SPARCELY WOODED TERRAIN. IMPACT OCCURRED NEAR THE TOP OF A RIDGE AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 1800 FT ON A HEADING OF ABOUT 150 DEG. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED DURING IMPACT; WRECKAGE WAS CONFINED TO A SMALL AREA. A WITNESS OF THE WEATHER IN THE AREA ESTIMATED THE SKY CONDITION WAS ABOUT 300 FT OVERCAST. WEATHER AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS NOT VERIFIED.
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: 300 hours in all; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PS97 Sigel PA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: N47 Pottstown, PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast; 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.