Grumman AA-LC accident near Inyokern, California, April 14, 1991
On April 14, 1991 at about 4:30 am local time, a Grumman AA-LC, registered N31DV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Inyokern, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 1991 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Inyokern, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-LC
- Registration
- N31DV · no longer on the register · serial AALC 0200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GRUMMAN AA-1C COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AFTER A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE FLOWN 6.4 HOURS SINCE IT WAS LAST SERVICED WITH 22 GALLONS OF FUEL. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL AT THE AIRPLANE ACCIDENT SITE. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS RETRIEVED AND EXAMINED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM. DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE AN EXTERNAL FUEL TANK WAS USED TO SUPPLY THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND IT RAN SMOOTHLY WITHOUT ANY DISCREPANCIES NOTED.
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: 550 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,166 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320E26 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L00 Rosamond CA at 2:00 am
- Destination: IYN Inyokern CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.