- Date
- August 20, 1993, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Westerly, RI
- Injuries
- 3 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1547RGrumman American AA-5B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930820030049A
- Case key
- 38639
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the subsequent forced landing and collision with soft terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that prior to takeoff 'everything appeared normal. At about 200 feet, the RPM dropped to 1000-1200. He tried to switch fuel tanks, but that did not help. He initiated a forced landing in a field and the airplane encountered soft terrain during the landing roll. A post-impact fire destroyed the airplane. The investigation revealed no evidence of mechancial malfunction; however, the engine was extensively damaged from fire.
Factual narrative
On Friday, August 20, 1993, at 1115 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5B, N1547R, registered to Mark, Inc., and piloted by Ronald L. Donley, was destroyed during a forced landing in Westerly, Rhode Island. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91.
In a written report, the pilot stated:
Prior to departure a thorough engine run-up and system check was done. Everything appeared normal. Takeoff roll and climb were normal. at approximately 500' AGL, I began a left turn ...RPM suddenly dropped to 1000-1200. A quick check of engine controls showed everything normal. Switching fuel tanks did not help. I selected a small field...I landed in this field...could not stop...came to a stop on a paved road...
Mr. Bruce H. Bosquet, one of the passengers, stated:
We took off on runway 25 and we were a couple of hundred feet in the air when Ron [PIC] said "We have a problem with the engine..." We hit the edge of the field...the plane caught fire.
Mr. Don Micknak, Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) for the Federal Aviation Administration, conducted an examination of the wreckage and interviewed witnesses. In his report, Mr. Micknak stated:
Based on interviews with several witnesses, the AA-5B engine sounded rough during takeoff and at an altitude of about two to three hundred feet, the aircraft turned left, lost altitude...The airplane hit soft ground...and came to rest...[on a] road. The engine caught fire and engulfed the entire aircraft...The aircraft was destroyed by fire. The engine was intact but severely distorted due to the intensity of the fire...Continuity between the prop and the accessory case was confirmed and the engine cylinders showed compression.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1547R
- Reported as
- Grumman American AA-5B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA5B-0047
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4K, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mark, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 15, 1992
- Destination
- EWB · New Bedford, MA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 150 in this make and model · 110 in the last 90 days · 38 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.