# NTSB FTW87FA130: Grumman AA5A, N26378, Malakoff, TX, May 27, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1987, 19:30 local (May 27, 1987, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Malakoff, TX
- Coordinates: 32.17078, -96.009788 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1708&lon=-96.0098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22248
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA130
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22248/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA130

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,valve,intake - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN NEAR MALAKOFF, TEXAS. FOLLOWING AN ENGINE FAILURE THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING TO A ROAD CROSSING A DAM. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AND BOUNCED INTO THE LAKE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE EXHAUST VALVE IN THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER HAD FAILED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26378](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26378-1991-03-21), registration cancelled 1991-03-21, S/N AA5A0517 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA5A
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5A0517
- Airframe hours: 641
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Fletcher Aviation
- Registered owner: Fletcher Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1987, 54 hours before
- Departed: HOB, HOUSTON, TX
- Destination: F41, ENNIS, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 175 total, 7 in this make and model, 131 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTW, 69 nm away

## 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 19870526016059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870526016059A), May 26, 1987: Gulstm AA5A, Malakoff, TX, Substantial damage. Engine quit. Forced landing on a dam. Bounced. Came to rest in the lake. An exhaust valve failure was reponsible.

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.