# NTSB LAX84FVM02: Grumman American AA-5B, N1544R, Monterey, CA, August 11, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: August 11, 1984, 00:09 local (07:09 UTC)
- Place: Monterey, CA
- Coordinates: 36.599403, -121.879776 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5994&lon=-121.8798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24029
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FVM02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24029/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FVM02

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - comm/nav equipment - undetermined (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH HILLY TERRAIN APRX 6 MILES EAST OF THE ARPT DURING THE SECOND ATTEMPTED ILS RWY 10 APCH. THE PLT STATED THAT COMMUNICATION AND NAVIGATION PROBLEMS WERE EXPERIENCED DURING THE FLT. HE ALSO STATED HE CHANGED FUEL TANKS EVERY 1/2 HR DURING THE FLT. A MISSED APCH WAS PERFORMED DURING THE FIRST ILS ATTEMPT BECAUSE THE PLT COULD NOT 'POSITIVELY' IDENTIFY THE RWY THRESHOLD. ON THE 2ND APCH, AFTER OUTER MARKER PASSAGE, THE PLT NOTICED HE WAS BELOW GLIDESLOPE AND NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE. HE CONTINUED TO STATE THAT AFTER TIME PASSAGE HE NOTICED FULL DOWN GLIDESLOPE DEFLECTION AND MIDDLE MARKER PASSAGE HAD NOT OCCURRED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ACFT IMPACTED TERRAIN. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND RADIO PACK WERE REMOVED FROM THE ACFT BEFORE INVESTIGATORS ARRIVED. THE RT FUEL TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY AND THE LT WAS NEARLY FULL. NO MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. RECORDS INDICATE LAST TRANS CHECK WAS 5/9/77, LAST STATIC SYSTEM/ALTIMETER CHECK WAS 5/12/77. LAST VOR TEST COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1544R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B-0044
- Airframe hours: 1546
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert F. Banner
- Registered owner: Frank Wennig
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 1984, 42 hours before
- Departed: SEE, EL CAJON, CA
- Destination: MRY, MONTEREY, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MRY, Monterey, runway 10, 6,597 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,206 total, 990 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 108 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 0° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft unknown
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MRY, 6 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 19840811039819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840811039819A), Aug 11, 1984: Gulstm AA5B, Monterey, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot failed to switch fuel tanks before fuel starvation, also failed to execute missed approach procedure in time.

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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