Grumman American AA-5B accident near St Maries, ID
On July 8, 1996, a Grumman American AA-5B (airplane) was involved in an accident near St Maries, ID. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 8, 1996
- Place
- St Maries, ID
- Aircraft
- Grumman American AA-5B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.200°N, 116.550°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06363
NTSB summary
On July 7, 1996, approximately 1700 Pacific daylight time, N28452, a Grumman American AA-5B, being operated by the owner/pilot, struck power lines, caught fire and subsequently collided with terrain near St. Maries, Idaho. The airplane burned following the wire strike and subsequent crash. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. No flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the sheriff of Benewah County, Idaho, a low-flying complaint had been lodged with his office on N28452 approximately three days before the accident, and the airplane had been observed performing "low-altitude stunts" in the vicinity of St. Maries. On the day of the accident, witnesses reported to the sheriff that they observed the airplane flying at (in the words of one witness) "tree height [approximately 60 feet above ground level] making tight right and left sweeps following the turns in the [St. Joe] river." The witnesses reported that they then saw the airplane strike a power line crossing over the river, knocking the power line down into the river, and that following this wire strike, flames erupted from the aircraft. They stated that after the wire strike, the airplane continued approximately one mile further west, beginning a right turning climb and then turning back to the south. They reported that the airplane then struck a second power line, which ran east/west, and crashed into a field. Photos taken by deputy sheriffs who made the emergency response to the accident showed clear skies with unrestricted visibility at th
Probable cause
the pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to a drug (marijuana), and his failure to see-and-avoid power lines. The pilot's intentional low altitude flight was a related factor.
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Browse: Idaho · Grumman American 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.
