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Accidents · NTSB LAX88LA003 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Grumman AA-5A accident near Big Bear City, California, October 4, 1987

On October 4, 1987 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5A, registered N7368L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Bear City, California (Big Bear City airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 4, 1987 · about 5:00 pm local time · cases in 1987
Place
Big Bear City, California · Big Bear City · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Grumman AA-5A
Registration
N7368L · registry record · serial AA-50268
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE STUDENT PILOT BOUNCED DURING LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH RUNWAY LIGHTS AND A TAXIWAY SIGN. HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 25 WITH WINDS REPORTED 040 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. HE SAID HE COULD NOT RECEIVE WIND INFORMATION BECAUSE HE HAD INADVERTANTLY TURNED OFF HIS RADIO.

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: student
  • Flight time: 21 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 4,327 hours
  • Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 11, 1987
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320-E (piston); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Paragon Air Escourt

The flight

  • Departed from: APV Apple Valley CA at 4:30 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 25, 5,850 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
  • Visibility: 50 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX88LA003.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.