# NTSB LAX89LA084: Grumman American AA-1B, N7174L, Westlake, CA, January 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 14, 1989, 16:13 local (Jan 15, 1989, 00:13 UTC)
- Place: Westlake, CA
- Coordinates: 34.18917, -118.809074 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1892&lon=-118.8091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26321
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26321/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA084

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING AND DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: FAULTY FUEL INDICATION, UTILITY POLE & UNEVEN TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - utility pole (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

BEFORE REACHING THE DESTINATION ARPT, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENG, BUT WAS UNABLE. SHE MANEUVERED TO LAND ON A ROADWAY & REMAINED OVER THE MEDIAN AS LONG AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID VEHICLES. DRG THE LANDING, THE RIGHT WING HIT A UTILITY POLE NEXT TO THE CURB OF THE ROADWAY & THE WING WAS TORN OFF THE ACFT. THE ACFT THEN WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT & CAME TO REST INVERTED. AFTER THE ACDNT, THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL, WHILE THE GAUGE OF THE FULLEST TANK WAS INDICATING 1/4 FULL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7174L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7174L-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N AA1B-0454, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-1B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1b) (registry code 3960103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA1B-0454
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Emily Christine Newman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 9, 1987, 15 hours before
- Departed: L18, FALLBROOK, CA
- Destination: CMA, CAMARILLO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,212 total, 1,175 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Observed at: OXR

## 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 19890114000639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890114000639A), Jan 14, 1989: Gulstm STCAA1, Westlake, CA, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel. Struck a light pole and crashed inverted trying to land on a road filled with traffic.

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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