# NTSB NYC78FNE01: Grum Amer AA5-A, N9961U, Sterling, MA, December 24, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 24, 1977
- Place: Sterling, MA · STERLING, MA
- Location: 42.4376° N, 71.7606° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sterling, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4376&lon=-71.7606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 13, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144398
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FNE01
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FNE01

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3915  77/12/24   STERLING,MA         GRUM AMER AA5-A     CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0920                    N9961U              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 24, 465 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            6 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STOW,MA                     LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SIMULATED CONDITIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- CLRD ENG ON BASE,AT 300FT WHEN THROTTLE ADVANCED ENG DID NOT RESPOND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9961U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9961U), registered now, S/N AA5A0361, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUM AMER AA5-A
- 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19771224041439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771224041439A), Dec 24, 1977: Grumav AA5A, Sterling, MA, Substantial damage. Clrd eng on base,at 300FT when throttle advanced eng did not respond.

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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