Grumman AA-1C accident near Torrance, California, May 23, 1994
On May 23, 1994, a Grumman AA-1C, registered N9514U, was destroyed in an accident near Torrance, California (Zamperini Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a fatigue failure of the carburetor fuel inlet fitting. A fuel flow system modification and an inadequate annual inspection were factors in the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1994
- Place
- Torrance, California · Zamperini Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1C
- Registration
- N9514U · registry record · serial AA1C0002
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER COMPLETION OF A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT TAXIED OFF THE ACTIVE RUNWAY AND THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE AIRPLANE AND NOTICED FLAMES AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR FUEL INLET FITTING WAS BROKEN. THE CARBURETOR FUEL LINE WAS CONNECTED TO A 4-INCH-LONG FUEL FLOW TRANSDUCER THAT WAS THEN CONNECTED TO THE CARBURETOR FUEL INLET FITTING. A METALLURGIST REPORTED THAT THE FITTING APPEARED TO HAVE BROKEN DUE TO FATIGUE. THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS DO NOT INCLUDE ANY DOCUMENTATION OF THE FUEL FLOW SYSTEM INSTALLATION. AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED 4.8 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,153 hours in all; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 4,607 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,142 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 1994; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,684 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KIC King City CA at 10:40 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29R, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX94LA223.