# NTSB SEA79FA006: Grum Amer AA-5B, N28924, Roche Harbor, WA, October 21, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 21, 1978
- Place: Roche Harbor, WA · ROCHE HARBOR, WA
- Location: 48.6074° N, 123.1306° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Roche Harbor, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6074&lon=-123.1306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 16, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138977
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA79FA006
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FA006

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2914  78/10/21   ROCHE HARBOR,WA     GRUM AMER AA-5B     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 59, 117
        TIME - 2030                    N28924              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 54 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ROCHE HARBOR
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROCHE HARBOR,WA             EVERETT,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       45
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- WITNESSES STATED LCL WX AS HIGH THIN OVCST,PATCHY FOG OR SCUD MOVING IN FM EAST,NO MOON VISIBLE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28924](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28924-1979-01-15), registration cancelled 1979-01-15, S/N AA5A0891, built 1978 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Roche Harbor

## 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 19781021033599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781021033599A), Oct 21, 1978: Gulstm AA5, Roche Harbor, WA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Witnesses stated LCL wx as high thin ovcst,patchy fog or scud movin fm east,no moon visible.

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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