# NTSB MKC80FA024: Grum-Amer AA-5B, N74028, Spencer, IA, February 21, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 21, 1980
- Place: Spencer, IA · SPENCER, IA
- Location: 43.1470° N, 95.1527° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spencer, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1470&lon=-95.1527&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 13, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131875
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC80FA024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC80FA024

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0417  80/2/21  NR.SPENCER,IA         GRUM-AMER AA-5B     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 1073
        TIME - 1635                    N74028              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 453 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SPENCER MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALLIANCE,NE                SPENCER,IA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       34
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           60                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           IFR
        REMARKS- ENCOUNTERED ICG COND ENRT.ACDNT SITE BLO FRZG LVL.RWY SEL UNKN.CRASHED NR VOR PROC TURN PT IN DRZL
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74028](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74028-2017-02-04), registration cancelled 2017-02-04, S/N AA5B-0105, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUM-AMER AA-5B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Spencer Muni

## 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 19800221003569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800221003569A), Feb 21, 1980: Gulstm AA5B, Spencer, IA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck ground in steep nose-down attitude three miles from airport. Had reported airframe icing. Low IFR time.

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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