Grumman AA-1C accident near Santa Paula, CA
On December 31, 1993, a Grumman AA-1C (airplane) was involved in an accident near Santa Paula, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 31, 1993
- Place
- Santa Paula, CA
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.399°N, 119.070°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X13869
NTSB summary
History of the Flight On December 31, 1993, about 1535 hours Pacific standard time, a Grumman AA-1C, N39036, crashed during takeoff from Santa Paula, California. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight to Oxnard, California, when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by Aero-Flite, Oxnard, California, was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire. The certificated private pilot received fatal injuries. A passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The passenger reported that after departure the airplane began to lose power. The engine was not running rough or missing; however, it sounded as if it was not developing full power. The airplane only climbed to about 70 feet above the ground (agl). The passenger heard the stall warning horn sound several times while the pilot was performing several emergency procedures. The pilot began a left turn to return to the airport. During the turn, the passenger heard the stall warning horn again and the airplane rapidly descended into a river bottom area. The airplane came to rest inverted in about 3 feet of water. The passenger indicated that he was under water about 1 minute until he released his seat belt and exited the airplane onto a nearby sand bar. A small fire erupted from the right wing root area that was extinguished by rescue personnel. The pilot remained trapped in the wreckage. A witness reported that after departure the airplane wings appeared to be rocking. The airplane was not trailing any smoke. From about 50 feet above the ground, the
Probable cause
A failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, and subsequent inadvertent stall during an undetermined loss of engine power following takeoff.
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Browse: California · Grumman aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
