Grumman AA5A accident near Lake View, California, January 22, 1989
On January 22, 1989 at about 8:20 am local time, a Grumman AA5A, registered N26313, was destroyed in an accident near Lake View, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO A BOX CANYON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1989 · about 8:20 am local time
- Place
- Lake View, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA5A
- Registration
- N26313 · no longer on the register · serial AA5A-0528
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A VFR FLIGHT TO WHITEMAN AIRPORT THE PILOT ELECTED TO FLY AROUND THE AIRPORT NORTH OF THE BURBANK ARSA AFTER PASSING WEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE AREA TO THE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT CONTAINS HIGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHICH WAS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED INTO A BOX CANYON AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN WHEN HE WAS EXECUTING A 180 DEGREE TURN.
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: 800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HMT Hemet CA at 7:10 am
- Destination: WHP Pacoima CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 am from BUR, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.