Amateur-built AA-5A and Cessna 172P mid-air collision near Pleasant Valley, New York, April 14, 1991
On April 14, 1991 at about 7:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built AA-5A (N9763U) and Cessna 172P (N5232K), were involved in a mid-air collision near Pleasant Valley, New York. 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N5232K TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT AND SEPARATION WITH N9763U.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N5232K TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT AND SEPARATION WITH N9763U.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 1991 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pleasant Valley, New York
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built AA-5A
- Registration
- N9763U · no longer on the register · serial 0163
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N5232K · registry record · serial 17274024
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built AA-5A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO PILOTS AGREED TO FLY TOGETHER AND KEEP IN RADIO CONTACT. AFTER TAKEOFF AND FLYING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION, THE CESSNA 172 PILOT SAID HE TURNED TO THE WEST AND WAS STRUCK BY THE GRUMMAN AA-5A AFTER 2-3 MINUTES. A GROUND WITNESS AND A WITNESS ON BOARD THE GRUMMAN SAW THE CESSNA 172 BEHIND THE GRUMMAN. THE SPINNER OF THE CESSNA 172 STRUCK THE LEFT AILERON OF THE GRUMMAN, AND THE RIGHT WING OF THE CESSNA STRUCK THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND DEFORMED THE RUDDER, ELEVATOR, AND AFT FUSELAGE OF THE GRUMMAN AA-5A. THE GRUMMAN MADE A FORCED LANDING WITH MINIMAL FLIGHT CONTROL IN A WOODED AREA, AND THE CESSNA 172 LANDED AT A NEARBY AIRPORT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172P final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO PILOTS AGREED TO FLY TOGETHER AND KEEP IN RADIO CONTACT. AFTER TAKEOFF AND FLYING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION, THE CESSNA 172 PILOT SAID HE TURNED TO THE WEST AND WAS STRUCK BY THE GRUMMAN AA5A AFTER 2 3 MINUTES. A GROUND WITNESS AND A WITNESS ON BOARD THE GRUMMAN AA5A SAW THE CESSNA 172 BEHIND THE GRUMMAN. THE SPINNER OF THE CESSNA 172 STRUCK THE LEFT AILERON OF THE GRUMMAN AA5A, AND THE RIGHT WING OF THE CESSNA STRUCK THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND DEFORMED THE RUDDER, ELEVATOR, AND AFT FUSELAGE OF THE GRUMMAN AA5A. THE GRUMMAN AA5A MADE A FORCED LANDING WITH MINIMAL FLIGHT CONTROL IN A WOODED AREA, AND THE CESSNA 172 LANDED AT A NEARBY AIRPORT.
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 for the amateur-built AA-5A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 199 hours in all; 128 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 91 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N69 Stormville NY at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from POU, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172P from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 554 hours in all; 554 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 473 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ 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-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N69 Stormville NY at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.