# NTSB CHI78FET01: American AA-1, N5604L, South Bend, IN, October 22, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: October 22, 1977
- Place: South Bend, IN · SOUTH BEND, IN
- Location: 41.6834° N, 86.2500° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of South Bend, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6834&lon=-86.2500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 13, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145549
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FET01
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FET01

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1096  77/10/22   SOUTH BEND, IN      AMERICAN AA-1       CR-  0  0  2  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 18, 383
        TIME - 1930                    N5604L              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 118 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MICHIANA REGIONAL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LUDINGTON, MI               CAHOKIA, IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED SPEED AND ALTITUDE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5604L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5604L-1981-06-03), registration cancelled 1981-06-03, S/N AA1-0006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN AA-1
- Registry model: [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (registry code 0630610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Michiana Regional

## 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 19771022035509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771022035509A), Oct 22, 1977: Grumav AA1, South Bend, IN, Substantial damage. Neither pilot knows which one was at the controls due to amnesia.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.