# NTSB OAK76AP055: Amer Avco AA1-B, N5503L, Bear Valley, CA, May 20, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 20, 1976
- Place: Bear Valley, CA · BEAR VALLEY, CA
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 20, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153683
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76AP055
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76AP055

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1464  76/5/20    BEAR VALLEY,CA      AMER AVCO AA1-B     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 21, 89 TOTAL
        TIME - 1630                    N5503L              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 8 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BEAR VALLEY,CA              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5503L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5503L-1976-08-05), registration cancelled 1976-08-05, S/N AA1B0603 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMER AVCO AA1-B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1b) (registry code 3960103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19760520017199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760520017199A), May 20, 1976: Gruman F6FJENNING, Bear Valley, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal

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.