Grumman AA-1B N9956L

Summary

On 1 November 1990 at about 15:45 local time, a Grumman AA-1B registered N9956L, operated by California Wings, was involved in an accident near Solana Beach, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 November 1990 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Solana Beach, California, United States

Coordinates

32.9996, -117.2590

Aircraft

Grumman AA-1B

Registration

N9956L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

California Wings

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Diego → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91FA020

2 people died.

THE INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ALLOW THE REPORTER PASSENGER TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT IN A CRITICAL FLIGHT SITUATION, HIS DECISION TO ALLOW THE AIRCRAFT TO DESCEND TO AN ALTITUDE TOO LOW TO ALLOW FOR CONTINGENCIES, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO ENSURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS PROPERLY LOADED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED OVER GROSS WEIGHT WITH A CG OUTSIDE THE REAR ENVELOPE LIMIT. THE PIC AND REPORTER PROCEEDED TO THE SITE OF AN AUTO ACCIDENT. EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE FACT THAT THE REPORTER, WHO WAS CURRENTLY RECEIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION AND HELD AN EXPIRED STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE, WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT VIOLATED COMPANY MINIMUM ALTITUDE LIMITS BY DESCENDING TO ABOUT 800 FT AGL AND INITIATED A SERIES OF STEEP TURNS AT SLOW AIRSPEED. STATEMENTS FROM OTHER PILOTS ESTABLISHED THAT THE REPORTER LIKED TO CROSS CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT IN ORDER TO HAVE A BETTER VIEW OF THE GROUND. GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT PERFORM AN ABRUPT MANEUVER THEN SPIN TO THE GROUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.