Grumman AA-1B accident near Paso Robles, California, July 13, 1985
On July 13, 1985 at about 2:12 am local time, a Grumman AA-1B, registered N8964L, was destroyed in an accident near Paso Robles, California (Paso Robles Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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 13, 1985 · about 2:12 am local time
- Place
- Paso Robles, California · Paso Robles Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1B
- Registration
- N8964L · registry record · serial AA1B-0414
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PASO ROBLES (PRB) FLIGHT SERVICE STATION AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST REPTD THAT THE PILOT RADIOED THAT THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL ABT 5 MILES SO OF PRB. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLSED BOTH WING FUEL TANKS CONTAINED LESS THAT 1 GALLON OF FUEL IN EACH TANK. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FUEL LEAKS WAS OBSERVED NEAR THE CARBURETOR OR FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL TANKS INTEGRITY WAS NOT COMPROMISED.
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: 193 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 106 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,672 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skylighters Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 10:29 pm
- Destination: PRB Paso Robles CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:12 am from PRB, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.