# NTSB LAX95LA114: Grumman AA5B, N28003, Pacifica, CA, February 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 20, 1995, 13:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Pacifica, CA - Coordinates: 37.60923, -122.479225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6092&lon=-122.4792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29038 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29038/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA114 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) FAILURE OF THE GRUMMAN PILOT TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT AND CLEARANCE FROM THE CITABRIA, WHILE OVERTAKING THAT AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HAZY SKY CONDITION AND THE GRUMMAN PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION TO OTHER TRAFFIC. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - normal - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Midair collision, cruise - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - diverted attention, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A GRUMMAN AA5B COLLIDED WITH A CHAMPION 7ECA WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1,300 FEET MSL. NEITHER THE GRUMMAN PILOT NOR THE CHAMPION PILOT HAD PREARRANGED TO FLY IN FORMATION. BOTH AIRPLANES DEPARTED FROM THE SAME AIRPORT AND HAPPENED TO BE FLYING ALONG THE SAME NORTHERLY COASTAL ROUTE. THE PILOT IN THE FASTER FLYING GRUMMAN OBSERVED THE CHAMPION AHEAD, AND INFORMED THE PILOT THAT HE WOULD PASS HIM ON HIS LEFT SIDE. THE CHAMPION PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE TRANSMISSION, AND OBSERVED THE GRUMMAN APPROACH FROM HIS 8 O'CLOCK POSITION AND TRAVEL TO HIS 9 O'CLOCK POSITION. THE CHAMPION MAINTAINED A STEADY ALTITUDE AND HEADING. BOTH PILOTS THEN OBSERVED A SOUTHBOUND APPROACHING TWIN-ENGINE AIRPLANE AT ABOUT THEIR ALTITUDE IN THE HAZY SKY. THE GRUMMAN PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED TOWARD THE TWIN, AND HE LOST SIGHT OF THE CHAMPION. SECONDS LATER, THE GRUMMAN'S PROPELLER PARTIALLY SEVERED THE CHAMPION'S LEFT WINGTIP. BOTH AIRPLANES LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER MISHAP. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On February 20, 1995, at 1310 Pacific standard time, a Grumman AA5B, N28003, and a Citabria 7ECA, N9082L, collided during cruise flight near Pacifica, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There were no injuries to the private pilot and passenger flying in N28003, or to the private pilot flying in N9082L. Both pilots reported that at the time of the accident they were making personal flights. In pertinent part, the Grumman pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board that he had taken off from the Half Moon Bay Airport at 1255, and he was proceeding in a northward direction toward San Francisco. After climbing to about 1,300 feet mean sea level, he observed the (slower flying) Citabria ahead of him. On the UNICOM frequency, he informed the Citabria pilot that he planned to pass to the Citabria's left side, and he heard the Citabria pilot acknowledge his transmission. As the Grumman pilot was overtaking and nearly abeam the Citabria, the Grumman pilot observed a southerly flying twin-engine airplane approaching nearly head-on. The Grumman pilot indicated to the Safety Board that he watched the approaching traffic and briefly rolled his airplane's wings left and right. He then lost sight of the Citabria, felt a vibration, and realized a collision had occurred. The Citabria pilot reported to the Safety Board that he had taken off from the Half Moon Bay Airport at 1305, and he was proceeding in a northward direction toward Novato, California. After climbing to about 1,320 feet mean sea level, he heard the pilot flying the Grumman report being at his 8 o'clock position. The Grumman pilot indicated that he planned to overtake and pass the Citabria on the Citabria's left side. The Citabria pilot further reported that he held his altitude and heading steady. He looked out his left window and observed the Grumman in his 8 o'clock position. Seconds later, the Grumman was in his 9 o'clock position. The Citabria pilot stated that he then observed a twin-engine airplane in his 11 o'clock position flying in a southerly direction. The Citabria pilot further reported that he did not need to make any turns to avoid colliding with the twin-engine airplane which appeared to be slightly above his altitude. Then, according to the Citabria pilot, he "felt a bump" and saw the Grumman above him and to his left. The Citabria pilot also reported that he then observed that his airplane's left wing had ". . . started to come apart from the wing tip to the cabin." Both airplanes returned to the Half Moon Bay Airport and landed without further mishap. The Citabria pilot reported that the Grumman's propeller had evidently sliced through his airplane's left wing thus partially severing its rear spar and aileron (see attached wreckage diagram). Regarding flight visibility, neither pilot reported experiencing any difficulty in observing each other's airplane. Both pilots reported that their forward flight visibility was restricted by haze. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N28003](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28003), registered now, S/N AA5B0935, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA5B - Registry model: [Gulfstream American AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-aa-5b) (registry code 3970106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5B0935 - Airframe hours: 1489 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alfred Perreira - Registered owner: Alfred Perreira - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 1995, 18 hours before - Departed: HAF, HALF MOON BAY, CA ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N9082L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9082L), registered now, S/N 781-70, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7ECA - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (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: 781-70 - Airframe hours: 4078 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jeffrey C. Smethurst - Registered owner: Jeffrey C. Smethurst - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 16, 1994, 57 hours before - Departed: HAF, HALF MOON BAY, CA - Destination: O56, NOVATO, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N28003; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 768 total, 57 in this make and model, 759 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days - Pilot, aircraft N9082L; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 513 total, 459 in this make and model, 469 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 4 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950220007111A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950220007111A), Feb 20, 1995: Gulstm AA5B, Pacifica, CA, Minor damage. While passing N9082L saw another aircraft head on rolled left and right to avoid and struck N9082L. Both landed. - [Accident 19950220007112A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950220007112A), Feb 20, 1995: Bbavia 7ECA, Pacifica, CA, Substantial damage. Was struck by a passing N28003 that was deviating due another head on aircraft. Left wing shredded but landed safely 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.