Grumman AA5 accident near Reno, Nevada, September 15, 1986
On September 15, 1986 at about 2:15 am local time, a Grumman AA5, registered N28987, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- September 15, 1986 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA5
- Registration
- N28987 · registry record · serial AA5B0923
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD BEEN WAITING IN LINE FOR TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 16 FOR OVER AN HOUR, DUE TO TRAFFIC DEPARTING AIR RACES. WHEN CLEARED TO DEPART, WINDS WERE 300 DEG AT 15 KTS, GUSTING TO 22 KTS. PLT ELECTED TO ATTEMPT TAKEOFF, BECAME MOMENTARILY AIRBORNE WITH STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDING. WHEN PLT LOWERED NOSE OF ACFT TO COMBAT STALL, ACFT LNDG GEAR STRUCK A DIRT MOUND PARALLEL TO RIGHT OF RUNWAY. DENS ALT CALCULATED AT 5000 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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 264 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 151 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 998 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 1985; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A41C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 2:15 am
- Destination: TOA Torrance CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:20 am from RNO
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.