Grumman AA-5B accident near 10 Nm W Lee Vin, California, January 4, 1982
On January 4, 1982 at about 1:28 am local time, a Grumman AA-5B, registered N28912, was destroyed in an accident near 10 Nm W Lee Vin, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 1982 · about 1:28 am local time
- Place
- 10 Nm W Lee Vin, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5B
- Registration
- N28912 · registry record · serial 0886
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON THE GROUND THE PILOT WAS REFUSED A ROUTE OVER THE SIERRA MOUNTAINS, AFTER DEPARTURE THE PILOT REQUESTED AND WAS GIVEN A CHANGE IN HIS FLIGHT PLAN THAT CLEARED HIM OVER THE MOUNTAINS. AT 1654 THE PILOT ADVISED OAKLAND CENTER THAT HE WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 14300 MSL. THE MEA WAS 15100 MSL. AT 1712 THE PILOT STATED HE HAD ENCOUNTERED STRONG UP AND DOWNDRAFTS BUT WAS VFR. JUST BEFORE CENTER LOST RADAR CONTACT THE PILOT ADVISED HE WAS BELOW MEA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED 5 DAYS LATER CLOSE TO THE TOP OF A 12590 FOOT MOUNTAIN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 507 hours in all; 343 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 372 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 654 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Mammoth Lakes CA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: Concord CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.