# NTSB CHI78FA029: Grum Amer AA5-B, N1552R, Sandusky, OH, March 17, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 17, 1978
- Place: Sandusky, OH · SANDUSKY, OH
- Location: 41.4559° N, 82.7144° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sandusky, OH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4559&lon=-82.7144&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141636
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FA029
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FA029

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3556  78/3/17    SANDUSKY,OH         GRUM AMER AA5-B     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 34, 46 TOTAL
        TIME - 1400                    N1552R              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 3 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GRIFFING-SANDUSKY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANDUSKY,OH                 TOLEDO,OH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WHITEOUT
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- NO RECORD OF PLT BEING CHECKED OUT IN ACFT OR X-COUNTRY PROC AS PER CLUB REGS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1552R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1552R-1978-03-17), registration cancelled 1978-03-17, S/N AA5B0052, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUM AMER AA5-B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Griffing-Sandusky

## 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 19780317040439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780317040439A), Mar 17, 1978: Gulstm AA5, Sandusky, OH, Destroyed. No record of plt being checked out in acft or x-country proc as plub regs.

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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