Amateur-built AA5B accident near Columbia, Connecticut, July 8, 1991
On July 8, 1991 at about 3:05 am local time, a amateur-built AA5B, registered N43ER, was destroyed in an accident near Columbia, Connecticut (Windham airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLIGHT EXPEREINCE, HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY, AND HIS INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1991 · about 3:05 am local time
- Place
- Columbia, Connecticut · Windham
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA5B
- Registration
- N43ER · no longer on the register · serial 0907
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF N43ER DID NOT RECEIVE A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. WITNESSES STATED THAT THERE WAS DENSE FOG THROUGHOUT THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. N43ER WAS HEARD FLYING OVER SEVERAL HOMES AT A LOW ALTITUDE JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES SAID THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL WITH NO MALFUNCTIONS. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. HE HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 169 HOURS, WITH 8.5 HOURS AT NIGHT.
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: 169 hours in all; 124 in this make and model; 16.2 in the last 90 days; 9.1 in the last 30 days; 139 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3N6 Old Bridge NJ at 1:45 am
- Destination: 5BQ Windham CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.