# NTSB DEN81FA049: Gulf-Amer AA-5B, N4539Q, Crested Butte, CO, July 12, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 12, 1981
- Place: Crested Butte, CO · CRESTED BUTTE, CO
- Location: 38.8678° N, 106.9773° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Crested Butte, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8678&lon=-106.9773&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 8, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123891
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FA049
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA049

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2449  81/7/12  NR.CRESTED BUTTE,CO   GULF-AMER AA-5B     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 29, 175
        TIME - 1025                    N4539Q              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         CRESTED BUTTE,CO             BOULDER,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       68
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DENSITY ALT AT ACCIDENT SITE 13400 FEET, ACFT SERVICE CEILING 13800 FEET.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4539Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4539Q-2013-08-14), registration cancelled 2013-08-14, S/N AA5B1303, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULF-AMER AA-5B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Crested Butte

## 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 19810712043769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810712043769A), Jul 12, 1981: Grumav AA5B, Crested Butte, CO, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Impacted trees near cloud-obscured mountain-top. Was near gross weight and service ceiling. Aft CG. Below moca.

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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