# NTSB IAD76AI085: Grum Amer AA-5A, N9778U, Lexington, KY, July 22, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 22, 1976
- Place: Lexington, KY · LEXINGTON, KY
- Location: 37.9887° N, 84.4777° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lexington, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9887&lon=-84.4777&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 154642
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD76AI085
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD76AI085

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2423  76/7/22    LEXINGTON,KY        GRUM AMER AA-5A     CR-  1  0  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 30, 16 TOTAL
        TIME - 1745                    N9778U              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BLUE GRASS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
           STALL: SPIRAL                                            LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PERSONNEL - FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR: INADEQUATE TRAINING OF STUDENT
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- MIXT CTL IN IDLE CUTOFF.STUDENT PLT HAD DIFFICULTY IN TFC PATTERN SPACING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9778U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9778U-1976-11-12), registration cancelled 1976-11-12, S/N AA5A-0178 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUM AMER AA-5A
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Blue Grass

## 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 19760722029589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760722029589A), Jul 22, 1976: Gulstm AA5, Lexington, KY, Destroyed. Mixt ctl in idle cutoff. Student plt had difficulty in tfc pattern spacing.

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.
