# NTSB DEN79FA002: Grum Amer AA5, N6071L, Littleton, CO, October 4, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 4, 1978
- Place: Littleton, CO · LITTLETON, CO
- Location: 39.5904° N, 105.0201° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Littleton, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5904&lon=-105.0201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 29, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138118
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FA002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FA002

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4417   78/10/4   LITTLETON,CO        GRUM AMER AA5       CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 22, 71 TOTAL
        TIME - 1818                    N6071L              PX-  1  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - STAPLETON INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LITTLETON,CO                ARAPAHOE CO ARPT,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: CYLINDER ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: SUBSTANDARD QUALITY CONTROL
           MISCELLANEOUS - SMOKE IN COCKPIT
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- #3 CYL FATIGUE,METAL FOLDS BETWEEN BARREL FINS.TRIED TO REACH ARAPAHOE,11MI S OF STAPLETON.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6071L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6071L-2013-04-25), registration cancelled 2013-04-25, S/N AA5-0171, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUM AMER AA5
- Registry model: [American AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-5) (registry code 0631410) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-340-series) (registry code 41510, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Stapleton Intl

## 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 19781004043829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781004043829A), Oct 4, 1978: Gulstm AA5, CO, 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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