Grumman AA-5 accident near Bermuda Dunes, California, July 15, 1982
On July 15, 1982 at about 12:35 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5, registered N7115L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bermuda Dunes, California (Bermuda Dunes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- July 15, 1982 · about 12:35 pm local time
- Place
- Bermuda Dunes, California · Bermuda Dunes
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5
- Registration
- N7115L · registry record · serial L3459327A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENG LOST POWER & THE ACFT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLT. THE ACFT LANDED IN SAND DUNES AND FLIPPED OVER. DURING A SUBSEQUENT ENG RUN IT WAS NOTED THAT THE ENG RAN NORMALLY AT LOW POWER SETTINGS BUT AT TAKEOFF POWER SETTINGS IT DEVELOPED AN APPARENT IGNITION PROBLEM IN THAT THE ENG MISFIRED & SURGED. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT MAGNETO WAS NOT DEVELOPING SUFFICIENT VOLTAGE OUTPUT. THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE LIFE OF THE MAGNETO IS 900 HOURS & IT APPEARED THIS MAGNETO WAS IN SERVICE FOR 1897 HOURS.
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: 481 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 376 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,898 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bermuda Dunes CA at 5:33 am
- Destination: Sheridan WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,030 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 160°F (71°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.