# NTSB LAX78FA026: Grum Amer AA-5A, N9842U, Fontana, CA, February 12, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 12, 1978
- Place: Fontana, CA · FONTANA, CA
- Location: 34.0922° N, 117.4350° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fontana, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0922&lon=-117.4350&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142864
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FA026
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FA026

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1824  78/2/12  NR.FONTANA,CA         GRUM AMER AA-5A     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 17, 111
        TIME - 1530                    N9842U              PX-  2  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 14 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          EL MONTE,CA                 EL MONTE,CA                  APPLE VALLEY,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      RAIN, SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9842U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9842U-2011-07-19), registration cancelled 2011-07-19, S/N AA5A0242, built 1976 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (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 19780212021049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780212021049A), Feb 12, 1978: Grumav AA5A, Fontana, CA, Destroyed, 2 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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