# Accident 20181012019749A: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5B, Refugio, TX, October 12, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 12, 2018, 09:00 local time
- Place: Refugio, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.3039° N, 97.3308° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3039&lon=-97.3308&mi=10
- Aircraft: N81383, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81383-2019-07-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman American Avn. AA-5B (registry code 3960105, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,600 total, 300 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN19LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA007) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181012019749A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

OCTOBER 12, 2018 AT 0900 CDT, AIRCRAFT BEARING REGISTRATION NUMBER N81383, IMPACTED TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AT ROOKE FIELD AIRPORT (KRFG) IN REFUGIO, TX. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE AIRMAN SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND WAS HOSPITALIZED.

FAA ONSITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED ONLY ONE OF THE TWO PROPELLER BLADES SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM GROUND IMPACT WHILE THE OTHER RECEIVED NO IMPACT DAMAGE INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT PRODUCING POWER. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL OR FUEL ODOR.

ONSITE WITNESS AT THE CRASH SITE STATED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK AND THE RIGHT TANK WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. ONE WITNESS STATED THE AIRMAN SAID TO HIM THAT HE WAS STOPPING FOR FUEL AND MADE A "ROOKIE MISTAKE".

AIRMAN HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE PILOT LOGBOOKS TO THE FAA OFFICE OR TO COMMUNICATE WITH NTSB.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN19LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA007), Oct 12, 2018: Grumman AA5 (N81383), Refugio, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper inflight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and the pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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