# NTSB LAX97LA079: Grumman American AA-5A, N9944U, Banning, CA, December 29, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 29, 1996, 11:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Banning, CA - Coordinates: 33.950832, -116.830711 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9508&lon=-116.8307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29709 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29709/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA079 ## Probable cause The pilot's intentional low flight in an area of foothills and canyons at an altitude insufficient to maintain clearance from obstacles. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - wire,transmission - low altitude flight/maneuver - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot told responding police officers that he was flying to the Banning airport to refuel when the engine began to sputter. He further stated that he was in the process of changing fuel tanks and did not see the high tension power lines. The officers reported that the accident site was in a canyon in the foothills north of the city. The power lines struck by the aircraft hang below the elevation of the canyon ridges where the towers are located. The lines are not marked. Several ground witnesses, including an off-duty Banning police sergeant, reported that they observed the aircraft flying low in the canyons near the accident site for at least a 15-minute period before the aircraft collided with power lines. Police officers at the accident site reported that they were concerned because fuel was leaking from both fuel tanks and posed a threat to a nearby stream. ## Factual narrative On December 29, 1996, at 1115 hours Pacific standard time, a Grumman American AA-5A, N9944U, collided with high tension power lines in a canyon area near Banning, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damaged. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Redlands, California, on the day of the accident at 1030. The pilot told responding Banning city police officers that he was flying to the Banning airport to refuel when the engine began to sputter. He further stated that he was in the process of changing fuel tanks and did not see the high tension power lines. The police officers reported that the accident site was in a canyon in the foothills north of the city. The power lines struck by the aircraft hang below the elevation of the canyon ridges where the towers are located. The lines are not marked. Several ground witnesses, including an off-duty Banning police sergeant, reported that they observed the aircraft flying low in the canyons near the accident site for at least a 15-minute period before the aircraft collided with power lines. The police officers at the accident site reported that they were concerned because fuel was leaking from both fuel tanks and posed a threat to a nearby stream. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9944U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9944U-2008-07-08), registration cancelled 2008-07-08, S/N AA5A0344, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-5A - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5A-0344 - Airframe hours: 2284 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jonathan K. Roberts - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1996, 11 hours before - Departed: L12, REDLANDS, CA - Destination: BNG, BANNING, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 860 total, 820 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BNG, 5 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 19961229040739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961229040739A), Dec 29, 1996: Gulstm AA5A, Banning, CA, Substantial damage. Engine sputtered en route. Struck power line changing fuel tanks. Observed low in canyon. Fuel tanks leaking fuel. 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.