Gulfstream AA-5B accident near Orinda, California, October 6, 1985
On October 6, 1985 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Gulfstream AA-5B, registered N45293, was destroyed in an accident near Orinda, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- October 6, 1985 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Orinda, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Gulfstream AA-5B
- Registration
- N45293 · no longer on the register · serial AA5B1151
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. A VFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED. A WITNESS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED LOW CEILINGS AND A FORWARD GROUND VISIBILITY OF 50 FT. APRX 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE ACFT WAS SEEN FLYING SOUTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE ON A SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING AT AN ALT OF APRX 200 TO 500 FT AGL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE SAME WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT TRAVELING NORTHBOUND THROUGH THE SAME AREA. SEVERAL OTHER WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT FLYING ALONG HWY 24 AT LOW ALTITUDES.
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: 225 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,712 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 12, 1985; 32 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: RBL Red Bluff CA at 8:44 pm
- Destination: SQL San Carlos CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Sky: not recorded at 50 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from OAK, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.