# NTSB OAK78FA023: Grumman AA-5A, N9740U, Red Bluff, CA, March 21, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 21, 1978
- Place: Red Bluff, CA · RED BLUFF, CA
- Location: 40.1735° N, 122.2415° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Red Bluff, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1735&lon=-122.2415&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142595
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78FA023
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FA023

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0456  78/3/21    RED BLUFF,CA        GRUMMAN AA-5A       CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 62, 300
        TIME - 1100                    N9740U              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 224 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STOCKTON,CA                 RED BLUFF,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       61
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          160                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9740U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9740U-2013-03-21), registration cancelled 2013-03-21, S/N AA5A-0140, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-5A
- 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: 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 19780321006319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780321006319A), Mar 21, 1978: Grumav AA5A, Red Bluff, 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.

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