Grumman AA5B accident near Hampton, New Hampshire, August 25, 1991
On August 25, 1991, a Grumman AA5B, registered N4518B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hampton, New Hampshire (Hampton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRPLANE PREMATURELY, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO ALLOW RECOVERY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE, THE PILOT'S COMPLACENCY, FAILURE TO DETERMINE THE AIRPLANE'S PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES PRIOR TO TAKE OFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1991
- Place
- Hampton, New Hampshire · Hampton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA5B
- Registration
- N4518B · registry record · serial AA5B-1038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM A 2100 FOOT GRASS RUNWAY. HE ROTATED THE AIRPLANE ABOUT 1/3 THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AND THEN SETTLED BACK ON THE RUNWAY AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AGAIN AND THE PILOT FELT HE WOULD NOT CLEAR TREES DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIS FLIGHT PATH. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID THE TREES AND STALLED WHILE AT A LOW ALTITUDE STRIKING THE TREES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 376 hours in all; 277 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 304 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-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ASH Nashua NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 2,100 ft by 170 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.