# NTSB LAX84LA391: Grumman AA-5A, N26938, Vacaville, CA, July 14, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 14, 1984, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Vacaville, CA
- Location: 38.3586° N, 121.9686° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vacaville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3586&lon=-121.9686&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24339
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA391
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24339/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA391

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS HIGH ON FINAL APPROACH SO HE LOWERED THE NOSE OF THE ACFT TO LOSE ALTITUDE AND IN RETURN GOT AN INCREASE IN AIRSPEED. HE TOUCHED DOWN 1/3 THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY AND THE ACFT BALLOONED. HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACFT BEFORE IT TRAVELED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND INTO A DITCH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N26938 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-5A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5A-0825
- Airframe hours: 15934
- Engines: LYCOMING O-330-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard A. Meyers
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 30, 1983, 78 hours before
- Departed: 051, LINCOLN, CA
- Destination: 045, VACAVILLE, CA
- Airport: O45, Nut Tree, runway 19, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 126 total, 57 in this make and model, 93 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F
- Observed at: SUU, 8 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 19840714032409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840714032409A), Jul 14, 1984: Gulstm AA5A, Vacaville, CA, Destroyed. Landed long and failed to go around. Unable to stop, ran off end of the runway into a ditch.

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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