Aviat A-1 accident near Arroyo Grande, California, October 7, 2007
On October 7, 2007 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Aviat A-1, registered N9620Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arroyo Grande, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudged altitude and distance on the approach that led to an undershoot and inadequate obstacle clearance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2007 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Arroyo Grande, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat A-1
- Registration
- N9620Z · registry record · serial 1195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing in a field owned by an acquaintance, and nearing touchdown, the main landing gear contacted the top of a wire fence and the left wing impacted a wooden fence post. When the airplane settled on the ground, both landing gears collapsed and the propeller impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest about 25 feet past the fence. The pilot said there were no preimapct mechanical malfunctions or failures.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,276 hours in all; 1,890 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-360-C1G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMX Santa Maria CA at 6:24 pm
- Destination: NONE Arroyo Grande CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from SBP, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.