# NTSB LAX78FUD06: Grum Amer AA-5, N9553L, Santa Monica, CA, May 13, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: May 13, 1978
- Place: Santa Monica, CA · SANTA MONICA, CA
- Location: 34.0109° N, 118.4982° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Monica, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0109&lon=-118.4982&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 14, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141932
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FUD06
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUD06

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1516  78/5/13    SANTA MONICA,CA     GRUM AMER AA-5      CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 55, 104
        TIME - 0930                    N9553L              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 25 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SANTA MONICA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN DIEGO,CA                CAMARILLO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - STUCK
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CARBON DEPOSITS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND SPEED
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        REMARKS- #3 CYL EXH VALVE STUCK CLOSED.OVERSHOT LDG ATTEMPT,HIT BRUSH DRG LOW ALT TURN BACK TO RWY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9553L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9553L-1982-01-07), registration cancelled 1982-01-07, S/N AA5-0653 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUM AMER AA-5
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5) (registry code 3960104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Santa Monica

## 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 19780513018339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780513018339A), May 13, 1978: Grumav AA5, Santa Monica, CA, Substantial damage. #3 Cyl exh valve stuck closed. Overshot ldg attempt,hit brush drg alt turn back to rwy.

## Other investigations on N9553L (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 LAX80FA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA116), Jul 5, 1980: Grum-Amer AA-5 (N9553L), San Diego, CA, destroyed, 4 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.

---
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.