# NTSB LAX83FA314: Grumman American AA-5A, N9945U, Livermore, CA, July 1, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 1, 1983, 07:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Livermore, CA
- Coordinates: 37.68048, -121.750068 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6805&lon=-121.7501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23470
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA314
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23470/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA314

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY IN IMC WEATHER. NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE FLT. NO WEATHER BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED BY THE PILOT BEFORE TAKEOFF. THE DISTANCE TO BE FLOWN WAS 72 MILES AND THE PILOT FLEW THIS ROUTE ABOUT 3 TIMES A WEEK. THE FLT GOT WITHIN 5 MILES OF DESTINATION BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN AT 1200 FT MSL. THE MOUNTAIN TOPS IN THE AREA GO AS HIGH AS 2500 FT MSL. THE PILOT WAS FLYING UP A CANYON IN LOW OVERCAST WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9945U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9945U-2013-05-31), registration cancelled 2013-05-31, S/N AA5A0345, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN 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
- Serial number: 0345
- Airframe hours: 1780
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Irving M. Weiss
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 1982, 68 hours before
- Departed: 011, FAIR OAKS, CA
- Destination: LVK, LIVERMORE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 455 total, 20 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LVK, 5 nm away

## 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 19830701028349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830701028349A), Jul 1, 1983: Gulstm AA5A, Livermore, CA, Destroyed. Accident site 1200 foot elevation. Investigation suggests flying up canyon in low overcast condition.

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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