# NTSB CHI76AC070: Grum Amer AA-5, N9696U, Crystal Falls, MI, June 12, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 12, 1976
- Place: Crystal Falls, MI · CRYSTAL FALLS, MI
- Location: 46.0902° N, 88.3214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Crystal Falls, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0902&lon=-88.3214&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 6, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 154907
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI76AC070
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76AC070

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1977  76/6/12    CRYSTAL FALLS,MI    GRUM AMER AA-5      CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 19, 201
        TIME - 1536                    N9696U              PX-  1  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 50 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PHELAN STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CRYSTAL FALLS,MI            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED WRONG RUNWAY RELATIVE TO EXISTING WIND
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISUSED OR FAILED TO USE FLAPS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: HIGH VEGETATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9696U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9696U-1976-10-14), registration cancelled 1976-10-14, S/N AA5A-0062 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUM AMER AA-5
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Phelan Strip

## 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 19760612025579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760612025579A), Jun 12, 1976: Amtr 3951441, Crystal Falls, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal

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.

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