# NTSB DEN83FTC01: Grumman American AA-5B, N81262, Albin, WY, October 8, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: October 8, 1982, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Albin, WY
- Location: 41.4169° N, 104.1015° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albin, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4169&lon=-104.1015&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 8, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69713
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FTC01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69713/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FTC01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ON PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A PRE-FLIGHT OR IN-FLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING. THE WEATHER AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEARD CIRCLING, BUT IT WAS NOT SEEN DUE TO SNOW. THE WINDS APPROACHED 50 TO 75 KTS. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED GROUND LEFT WING FIRST IN A SLIGHT BANK AND IN A SHALLOW DESCENT. IT IMPACTED IN AN OPEN FIELD AND DEMOLISHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81262](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81262-2012-07-24), registration cancelled 2012-07-24, S/N AA5B0479 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B-0479
- Airframe hours: 1133
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Eugene E. Liebel
- Registered owner: Eugene E. Liebel
- Departed: BRIGHTON, CO
- Destination: BISMARK, ND

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 398 total, 25 in this make and model, 329 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 360° at 15 knots

## 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 19821008054789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821008054789A), Oct 8, 1982: Gulstm AA5B, Albin, WY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Proceeded VFR into IMC. Lost control of aircraft. Forecast weather for blizzard condition. No weather briefing.

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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