# NTSB ERA25LA184: Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, N28311, Zolfo Springs, FL, April 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 23, 2025, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Zolfo Springs, FL · On Airport - Coordinates: 27.455556, -82.105 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4556&lon=-82.1050&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 19, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200058 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200058/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200058 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA184 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff. Contributing was the flight instructor’s lack of remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, flight instructor, and the passenger onboard the airplane were attempting to depart from a 3,400-ft-long turf runway. The pilot reported that as the airplane began to lift off from the runway, and he attempted to “ease the nose down” to stay in ground effect and gain airspeed. He attempted to correct a left yaw by applying right rudder and lowering the nose, but the airplane became uncontrollable. The airplane departed the runway, impacted trees, and a post-crash fire ensued that destroyed the airplane. A witness also observed the takeoff and described that as the airplane was taking off, the engine was at full power but it lifted off the runway too soon. Due to the airplane’s low speed, it descended and bounced. When the airplane contacted the ground again, the left with struck the ground and the airplane pivoted to the left, departed the runway, and went into a ditch where it came to rest. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28311](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28311-2025-11-04), registration cancelled 2025-11-04, S/N AA5B0555, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5B - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5B0555 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 3494.64 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 2024, 80 hours before - Destination: SGJ, St. Augustine, FL - Airport: 67FL, Bald Eagle Airfield- Myakka Head, runway 18, 3,400 × 130 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 35; injuries: minor; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,550 total, 28.4 in this make and model, 4,482 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 8, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 249.4 total, 28.4 in this make and model, 179.6 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 15.8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: SRQ, 24 nm away - METAR: METAR KSRQ 231453Z 13007KT 10SM CLR 27/17 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP198 T02720172 50007= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250423021249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250423021249A), Apr 23, 2025: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5B, Zolfo Springs, FL, Destroyed. On April 23,2025 a Grumman AA-5B was departing a 3400FT grass runway at bald eagle airfield - Myakka Head 67FL in Zolfo Springs Florida. 3 people were on board… ## Other investigations on N28311 (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 ATL82DA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA262), Sep 2, 1982: Grumman AA5B (N28311), Darlington, SC, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200058. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19826965&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Manatee county sheriff's office report (item 2, PDF, 8 pages, 750 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19826922&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MCSO%20Incident%20Sheet%20with%20Statments_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 507 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20027322&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.