20070911018869A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amrgen AA-5 · Joshua Tree, CA · September 11, 2007

Date: September 11, 2007 · 22:28 local
Place: Joshua Tree, CA
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N119G
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX07FA272
Reported as: Amrgen AA5
Reported engine: Lycoming O320*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,000 total0 in this make and model0 in the last 90 days

N119GRegistration cancelled Jul 12, 2017 · Grumman American Avn. AA-5S/N AA5-0324 · Built 1973 Airframe modelGrumman American Avn. AA-5 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot received fatal injuries. Aircraft crashed into side of mountain, due to being too low. At the time of crash, airport and surrounding community were in a blackout condition. There was no moon or lighting available for the pilot to see the airport. Decision was made to try to land the aircraft in darkness. Teardown aircraft was conducted and no maintenance issues were discovered. At this time there is a strong indication that pilot error was the cause of the accident.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO SIDE OF MOUNTAIN, DUE TO BEING TOO LOW. AT THE TIME OF CRASH, AIRPORT AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY WERE IN A BLACKOUT CONDITION. THERE WAS NO MOON OR LIGHTING AVAILABLE FOR THE PILOT TO SEE THE AIRPORT. DECISION WAS MADE TO TRY TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT IN DARKNESS. TEARDOWN AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTED AND NO MAINTENANCE ISSUES WERE DISCOVERED. AT THIS TIME THERE IS A STRONG INDICATION THAT PILOT ERROR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX07FA272Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportJoshua Tree, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance during descent. Contributing to the accident were dark night conditions and mountainous terrain.Sep 12, 2007 · Substantial damage