Grumman AA-5B N4553R
18 June 1994 · Apple Valley, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 18 June 1994 at about 21:30 local time, a Grumman AA-5B registered N4553R, operated by Neil MC Lean, was involved in an accident near Apple Valley, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Apple Valley, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Holiday Valley Ranch
- Coordinates
- 34.5697, -117.1501
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5B
- Registration
- N4553R
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Neil MC Lean
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Banning
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94LA258
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed in the takeoff initial climb and the resultant inadvertent entry into a stall/mush condition. High density altitude and downdraft conditions were factors in the accident.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT UTILIZING A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF TECHNIQUE FROM A DIRT AIRSTRIP AT A DENSITY ALTITUDE COMPUTED AT 6,200 FEET. THE AIRSTRIP IS LOCATED AT 3,200 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 40 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND THEN SUDDENLY DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE AND AN EARTH COMPACTING MACHINE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT OR WINDSHEAR CONDITION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Grumman AA-5B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb 1995 | Grumman AA-5B | Salisbury, North Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 1998 | Grumman AA-5B | Torrance, California, United States | West END Flyers | No injuries | - |
| 5 Sep 1998 | Grumman AA-5B | Winnsboro, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Apr 1990 | Grumman AA-5B | Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, United States | Joseph W. Davis | Fatal | 1 |
| 9 Apr 1990 | Grumman AA-5B | Stone Mountain, Georgia, United States | Robert E. Bridges | No injuries | - |
| 4 Sep 1989 | Grumman AA-5B | South Harpswell, Maine, United States | Star Aviation | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-28R-201 | Fort Bragg, California, United States | Sundance Flying Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 May 1994 | Schweizer G-164B | Yuba City, California, United States | Sutter Butte Dusters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Sep 1994 | Cessna T210L | Kettleman City, California, United States | Willie Alves Rodrigues | No injuries | - |
| 13 May 1994 | Maule M-5-235C | Columbia, California, United States | White, James L. | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1994 | Cessna 150L | Rio Linda, California, United States | Hinckley, Thomas, F. | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Chico, California, United States | Sierra Aviation | No injuries | - |