Grumman AA-5B accident near Lebanon, Oregon, March 21, 1982
On March 21, 1982 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5B, registered N28791, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lebanon, Oregon (Lebanon 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 1982 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, Oregon · Lebanon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5B
- Registration
- N28791 · registry record · serial 0817
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD ABOUT 3 HOURS OF FLYING EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT. THIS WAS HIS FIRST LANDING WITH REAR-SEAT PASSENGERS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS VARIABLE AND GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS. DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE PILOT FELT A SUDDEN DROP AND APPLIED POWER TO COMPENSATE. THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN TAIL FIRST, BOUNCED AND DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. IT CONTINUED DOWN A DRAINAGE DITCH BESIDE THE RUNWAY UNTIL IT HIT A CULVERT AND CROSSED OVER A PERPENDICULAR TAXIWAY. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE PLANE TRAVELED ALONG THE DRAINAGE DITCH FOR ABOUT 1500 FT.
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: 72 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,186 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 58 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: S30 Medford OR at 11:00 am
- Destination: MFR Lebanon OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 2,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 122°F (50°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.