Grumman American AA-5B accident near Jones Beach, NY
On July 8, 1997, a Grumman American AA-5B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Jones Beach, NY. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 8, 1997
- Place
- Jones Beach, NY
- Aircraft
- Grumman American AA-5B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.270°N, 73.980°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08477
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 8, 1997, about 1347 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5B, N28535, was destroyed when it impacted water and sank near Jones Beach, New York. The certificated private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed the Republic Airport (FRG), Farmingdale, New York, about 1338, destined for Lancaster, Pennsylvania. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to an Air Traffic Control (ATC) voice recording, after takeoff from FRG, the pilot contacted the tower controller at the John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport. The pilot then requested clearance to fly along the beach through JFK airspace at 400 feet. The controller issued the pilot a transponder code, and established radar contact with the airplane, 1 mile northwest of the Jones Beach Inlet. The pilot did not acknowledge the radar contact. About 30 seconds later, intermittent radio transmissions were received by the JFK controller, and radar contact was lost. According to the ATC voice communications tape, the last transmissions received from the airplane included the statement, "I've got to keep the wings level." Witnesses in the water on surfboards observed the airplane before the accident. One of the witnesses stated: "...I was paddling out to catch a wave when a small red and white single prop airplane suddenly appeared out of the dense fog...The plane was about 10-15 feet over our heads. It was heading in a northwest direction towards where the beach
Probable cause
VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain (water). Related factors were: the adverse weather condition (fog), and the pilot's lack of instrument experience.
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Browse: New York · Grumman American aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
