# NTSB LAX89FA296: Grumman AA-5B, N28493, California City, CA, September 6, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 6, 1989, 10:09 local (17:09 UTC)
- Place: California City, CA
- Coordinates: 35.149921, -117.919685 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1499&lon=-117.9197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26246
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA296
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26246/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA296

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PARTIAL ENGINE POWER LOSS, WHICH WAS DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES, THE STUDENT PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE, THE STRONG CROSS WIND, AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - ignition system,spark plug - worn (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,replacement - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT ON HER SECOND SOLO CROSS COUNRTY EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB. SHE MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO LAND ON THE TAKEOFF RUNWAY, EACH TIME FLYING A LEFT TRAFFIC PATTERN THAT WAS LOWER THAN THE PRECEDING PATTERN. GROUND WITNESSES SAW THE AIRCRAFT FLY PATTERNS THAT WERE 'LOW, CLOSE AND WITH TIGHT BASE TO FINAL TURNS.' ON EACH BASE TO FINAL TURN, THE AIRCRAFT OVERSHOT THE TURN DUE TO A STRONG LEFT CROSS WIND. DURING THE THIRD BASE TO FINAL TURN, THE WITNESSES SAW THE AIRCRAFT ENTER A VERY STEEP BANK, STALL, AND HIT THE GROUND ON THE LEFT WING TIP. A POST CRASH FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT. NO EVIDENCE OF A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WAS FOUND. FOUR OF THE SPARK PLUGS FAILED A PRESSURE CHAMBER TEST, WITH THREE OF THEM SHOWING GAPS IN EXCESS OF .022' (NORMAL GAP IS .016) AND WERE VERY WORN. REVIEW OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWED THAT THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY ONLY REPLACED SPARK PLUGS ON A ONE FOR ONE BASIS INSTEAD OF IN COMPLETE SETS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28493](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28493-1990-08-23), registration cancelled 1990-08-23, S/N AA5B0545 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-5B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B-0545
- Airframe hours: 4821
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Sussex Aviation
- Registered owner: Ronald A. La Rue
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 1989, 32 hours before
- Departed: L71
- Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: L71, Calif City Muni, runway 24, 6,035 × 55 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 93 total, 93 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: WJF, 27 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 19890906033909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890906033909A), Sep 6, 1989: Gulstm AA5B, California City, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine misfiring on climbout circled to land twice. Third try stalled trying to align runway. Worn out spark plugs.

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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