# NTSB OAK77FXQ20: Grum Amer AA-1A, N9449L, Placerville, CA, May 18, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: May 18, 1977
- Place: Placerville, CA · PLACERVILLE, CA
- Location: 38.7311° N, 120.7977° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Placerville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7311&lon=-120.7977&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 18, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 147621
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK77FXQ20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK77FXQ20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1509  77/5/18  NR.PLACERVILLE,CA     GRUM AMER AA-1A     CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 29, 76 TOTAL
        TIME - 1530                    N9449L              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 4 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          OXNARD,CA                   S LK TAHOE,CA                JACKSON,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SNOW
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              39
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          210                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- ENCOUNTERED SNOW FLURRIES.ATMTD 180DEG TURN,HIT TREES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9449L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9449L-1977-09-07), registration cancelled 1977-09-07, S/N AA1A-0249, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUM AMER AA-1A
- Registry model: [American AA-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1a) (registry code 0630710) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (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 19770518018109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770518018109A), May 18, 1977: Gulstm AA1, Placerville, CA, Destroyed. Encountered snow flurries. Atmtd 180DEG turn,hit trees.

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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