# NTSB IAD80FIJ01: Grum Amer AA-1A, N5765L, Galax, VA, April 7, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 7, 1980
- Place: Galax, VA · GALAX, VA
- Location: 36.6656° N, 80.9143° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Galax, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6656&lon=-80.9143&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131055
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD80FIJ01
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FIJ01

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0255   80/4/7    GALAX,VA            GRUM AMER AA-1A     CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, 221
        TIME - 1650                    N5765L              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          BLOOMINGTON,IN              RADFORD,VA                   HUNTINGTON,WV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
                                  LOW ON FUEL
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PIC ENTERED LOW CEILING AND VISIBILITY,BECAME DISORIENTED,LOW ON FUEL.LANDED ON GOLF COURSE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5765L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5765L-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N AA1-0165, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUM AMER AA-1A
- Registry model: [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (registry code 0630610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19800407008239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800407008239A), Apr 7, 1980: Gulstm AA1A, Galax, VA, Substantial damage. Encountered low ceiling. Unable to locate airport, low on fuel, struck guywire while landing on golf course.

## Other investigations on N5765L (1)

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.

- [NTSB ATL93LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA149), Sep 4, 1993: American AA-1 (N5765L), Tuscaloosa, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: FOULED SPARK PLUGS ON THE NUMBER 2 AND 3 CYLINDERS, AND A LACK OF COMPRESSION ON THE NUMBER 1 AND 4 CYLINDERS, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH VEGETATION AT THE FORCED…

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.