Grumman AA1C accident near Redlands, California, April 18, 1987
On April 18, 1987 at about 10:26 pm local time, a Grumman AA1C, registered N9545U, was destroyed in an accident near Redlands, California (Redlands airport). It was an instructional 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
- April 18, 1987 · about 10:26 pm local time
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA1C
- Registration
- N9545U · registry record · serial AA1C-0007
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE PLT STATED THAT THE ESTIMATED FUEL CAPACITY IN THE ACFT WAS APRX 12 GALS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE PLT TOOK-OFF ON THE RIGHT FUEL TANK AND FLEW IN THE LOCAL AREA FOR APRX 15 MINUTES THEN RETURNED TO THE ARPT FOR TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. ON THE THIRD TAKE-OFF, ASCENDING THROUGH 500 FT AGL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND TURNED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH AN INCLINED MOUND. THE ACFT AT THIS TIME STARTED TO DEVELOP POWER AND BECAME AIRBORNE. THE ACFT THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TOP OF A FENCE AND NUMEROUS TREES AND FINALLY CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL SIGNS OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,345 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1987; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L12 Redlands CA at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from SBD, 4 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.