Grumman AA-1 accident near Highland, New York, July 17, 1990
On July 17, 1990 at about 11:07 pm local time, a Grumman AA-1, registered N1404R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Highland, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DUE TO A POWER LOSS FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1990 · about 11:07 pm local time
- Place
- Highland, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1
- Registration
- N1404R · no longer on the register · serial AA1B0504
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED SKY ACRES AIRPORT, FLEW WEST ACROSS THE HUDSON AT 1200 FEET M.S.L AND TURNED RIGHT TO AVOID THE TOWER ON THE MOUNTAIN. THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND HE TURNED TOWARDS THE RIVER. POWER WAS REGAINED, SHORTLY BEFORE THE AIRPLANE HIT SOME TREES. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN TREES AND STALLED THE AIRPLANE.
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: 400 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,304 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 13, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 44N Millbrook NY at 10:40 pm
- Destination: 44N
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:07 pm
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.