Grumman AA5B accident near Stow, Massachusetts, August 15, 1990
On August 15, 1990 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Grumman AA5B, registered N81286, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stow, Massachusetts (Minuteman airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN THE APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT MISJUDGING THE TOUCH DOWN POINT AND LANDED LONG.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Stow, Massachusetts · Minuteman
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA5B
- Registration
- N81286 · registry record · serial AA5B-0484
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE TWO APPROACHES AND GO AROUNDS AND ON THE THIRD APPROACH TOUCHED DOWN LONG. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A SWAMPY AREA UNDER CALM WIND CONDITIONS. THE RUNWAY IS 2743 FT LONG AND HAS TREES ON THE APPROACH END. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD NOT FLOWN THE AIRPLANE IN 30 DAYS DUE TO TRAVELING.
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: 132 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 80 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASH Nashua NH at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,743 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.