Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

October 12, 2018 · Grumman AA5 B · N81383

Refugio, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 12, 2018
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Refugio, TX
Aircraft
Grumman AA5 B (1977)
Tail Number
N81383
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN19LA007

The pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight when he became lost. The pilot reported that he did not understand how to navigate using the GPS that was installed in the airplane before the flight. Instead of continuing to the southeast toward the intended destination, the pilot turned south for the remainder of the flight. After flying for about 1.5 hours, the pilot became concerned about how much fuel remained and decided to land to refuel. The pilot stated that the airplane had a total loss of engine power while in the airport traffic pattern, and that he did not maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall during the turn from the base leg to final. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage during impact. Examination of the airplane revealed no fuel in the left fuel tank, about 7 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank, and less than 2 fluid ounces of combined fuel from the electric boost pump, the fuel line to the carburetor, and the carburetor fuel bowl. The pilot reported that the fuel selector valve was positioned to the left fuel tank when the loss of engine power occurred. The loss of engine power was likely due to fuel starvation.

NTSB 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 airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude.

Full Narrative

On October 12, 2018, about 1304 central daylight time, a Grumman AA-5B airplane, N81383, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident while maneuvering to land at Rooke Field Airport (RFG) near Refugio, Texas. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Investigator-in-Charge (IIC), the pilot stated that the accident occurred during the first flight after an annual inspection and the installation of a Garmin 480 GPS. The pilot estimated that the airplane had about 26 gallons of fuel onboard when he departed Silver Wings Airport (TS36), Fredericksburg, Texas, for the cross-country flight to Lane Airpark (T54), Rosenburg, Texas. The pilot reported that he did not understand how to navigate using the GPS, and as a result he became lost during the flight and turned south instead of continuing to the southeast toward T54. After flying for about 1.5 hours, he became concerned about how much fuel remained and decided to land at RFG to refuel. The pilot stated that he did not maintain adequate airspeed while in the traffic pattern for runway 14L at RFG, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall during the turn from the base leg to final. The pilot did not submit a completed NTSB Accident Report Form (6120.1) during the investigation. During a telephone interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airworthiness Inspector, the pilot confirmed that he became lost during the flight and that he decided to land to refuel. He selected the left fuel tank while he maneuvered to land, but the airplane had a total loss of engine power while on final approach. A witness reported seeing the airplane wreckage in a field north of the airport as he taxied his airplane toward the approach end of runway 14L at RFG. The airplane had traveled about 100-125 ft after it impacted the ground. The accident pilot reportedly told the witness that he made a “rookie mistake” while maneuvering to land for fuel. A medical helicopter was dispatched to the site to transport the pilot to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. The witness then called the FAA to report the accident. The witness stated that the left tank did not contain any fuel, but there was fuel visible in the right tank. Neither fuel tank appeared to be damaged, and the fuel selector valve handle was positioned to the right fuel tank. The mixture control was full rich, the throttle was full forward, and the ignition key was positioned on the right magneto. The flap selector was full down. A FAA Airworthiness Inspector stated that the airplane’s left fuel tank was empty at the accident site, and that the right fuel tank contained about 7 gallons of fuel. Less than 2 fluid ounces of combined fuel was recovered from the electric boost pump, the fuel line to the carburetor, and the carburetor fuel bowl. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage during impact. A mechanic at the departure airport reported seeing about 8 gallons of fuel in each fuel tank (16 gallons total) before the flight. The airplane was not refueled before the flight because there was no fuel service at the departure airport. Based on available radar track data, the flight likely departed TS36 about 1120. The airplane’s ground track generally continued to the southeast toward T54 until about 1155 when it turned to the south. The airplane did not reestablish a course toward T54 for the remainder of the flight. At 1302:24, the last radar return was recorded about 0.125 mile south-southwest of RFG at 350 ft mean sea level. The accident site was located about 1,300 ft north of the approach end of runway 14L at RFG.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:04 CDT
Nearest AirportRooke Field Airport (0nm NW)
Runway14L
Runway Length4361 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman AA5 B
Tail NumberN81383
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4K · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 73 · Second Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 11 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.93 inHg
Observation Time16:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data