# NTSB LAX80FA116: Grum-Amer AA-5, N9553L, San Diego, CA, July 5, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 5, 1980
- Place: San Diego, CA · SAN DIEGO, CA
- Location: 32.7153° N, 117.1573° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Diego, CA, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7153&lon=-117.1573&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 5, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129484
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA116
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA116

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1941   80/7/5    SAN DIEGO,CA        GRUM-AMER AA-5      CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 35, 95 TOTAL
        TIME - 2256                    N9553L              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 33 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BROWN FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN DIEGO,CA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          GROUND FOG                                               IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ACFT OBSD ENTERING A FOG BANK AFTER TKOF.
```

## 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: Destroyed
- Airport: Brown Field

## 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 19800705024729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800705024729A), Jul 5, 1980: Gulstm AA5, San Diego, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Pilot departed airport in IFR weather and was observed spiraling into ground a few minutes after takeoff.

## 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 LAX78FUD06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUD06), May 13, 1978: Grum Amer AA-5 (N9553L), Santa Monica, CA, substantial damage

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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