# NTSB LAX97LA275: Grumman American AA-5, N6086L, Monterey, CA, August 8, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1997, 20:00 local (Aug 8, 1997, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Monterey, CA
- Coordinates: 36.600055, -121.879394 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6001&lon=-121.8794&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29864
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA275
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29864/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA275

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from surrounding terrain.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The aircraft departed Monterey Airport on a local flight and was reported overdue on the day of the flight.  It was subsequently found approximately 18 miles southeast of the airport where it had impacted mountainous terrain.  The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured and the aircraft was consumed by a postimpact fire.

## Factual narrative

On August 7, 1997, at approximately 2000 hours Pacific daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5, N6086L, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain approximately 18 miles southeast of Monterey, California.  The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured.  The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot, and had departed Monterey Airport at 1900 on the day of the accident for a local personal flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed.

On September 24, 1997, a teardown inspection of the aircraft engine was performed by a Lycoming accident investigator and witnessed by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector.  The engine had incurred extensive fire damage and the magnetos were destroyed by heat.  The Lycoming representative stated that there was no evidence of incorrect assembly, internal failure, or excessively worn parts.  The exhaust muffler was opened and no evidence of collapsed baffles or other flow restrictions were found.  The Lycoming representative stated that the engine appeared to have been serviceable at the time of the accident.

The remainder of the aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire and it was not possible to verify fuel state or control system continuity.  The FAA inspector who surveyed the crash site stated that there was no evidence of in-flight structural failure.  There was no damage to ground structures or injuries to ground personnel, however, all of the undergrowth in the immediate area of the impact site had been destroyed by the postaccident fire.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6086L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6086L-1999-01-27), registration cancelled 1999-01-27, S/N AA5-0186 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-5
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5) (registry code 3960104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5-0186
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2G 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Samuel G. Rhea
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MRY, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,000 total, 150 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KMR, 18 nm away

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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