# NTSB LAX83LA381: Grumman American AA1, N6105L, Bishop, CA, August 10, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1983, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Bishop, CA
- Coordinates: 37.500862, -118.309173 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5009&lon=-118.3092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23818
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA381
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23818/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA381

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - flight control,elevator tab - improper (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - maintenance,100-hour inspection - performed, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - elevator - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT LANDED HARD DURING A FORCED LANDING AND COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR PILOT REPORTED THAT 10-15 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF HE EXPERIENCED PITCH CONTROL PROBLEMS. HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE ACFT AND MADE A FORCED LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE PILOT STATED THAT POSSIBLY HE HIT A BIRD BUT ALSO NOTED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT A BOLT ON THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB LINKAGE WAS MISSING. MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATED THAT ON THE LAST 100 HOUR INSPECTION THE RUDDER, AILERON AND ELEVATOR CABLES WERE INSPECTED AND THE ELEVATOR BUNGEE HOUSING WAS INSPECTED AND NO DEFECTS FOUND. THIS INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED AT A TACH TIME OF 1068.3. THE TACK TIME AFTER THE ACCIDENT WAS 1127.74. NO EVIDENCE OF A BIRD STRIKE WAS FOUND DURING EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6105L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6105L-1984-03-01), registration cancelled 1984-03-01, S/N AA1-0305 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Grumman American AA1
- Registry model: [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (registry code 0630610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 305
- Airframe hours: 1128
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: N. V. Matthis & J. A. Schanker
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 1983, 59 hours before
- Departed: BIH, BISHOP, CA
- Destination: VGT, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: BIH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,553 total, 70 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BIH, 20 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 19830810039769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830810039769A), Aug 10, 1983: Gulstm AA1, Bishop, CA, Substantial damage. Trim control problem on level off. Elected to land in open field. Impact folded gear. Trim tab bolt was missing.

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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