Grumman AA-1B accident near Corona, California, July 27, 1994
On July 27, 1994 at about 3:05 am local time, a Grumman AA-1B, registered N8972L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corona, California (Corona airport). It was a personal 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
AN UNDETERMINED PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1994 · about 3:05 am local time
- Place
- Corona, California · Corona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1B
- Registration
- N8972L · no longer on the register · serial AA1B-0422
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING INITIAL CLIMB HE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE AIRPLANE BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT. INSUFFICIENT ENGINE POWER WAS PRODUCED TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT, AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO ROUGH TERRAIN ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE RUNWAY. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN. THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH WITH THE MIXTURE CONTROL IN THE RICH POSITION, AND IT SMOOTHED OUT WHEN THE MIXTURE WAS PLACED IN THE LEAN POSITION. NO BLOCKAGES WERE NOTED IN THE ENGINE'S INDUCTION SYSTEM. THE CARBURETOR WAS VISUALLY INSPECTED AND NO ABNORMALITIES WERE FOUND. THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROL LINKAGES WERE REPORTED TO BE CORRECTLY INSTALLED.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Paradise Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: L66 CA at 3:00 am
- Destination: L66 CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 77°F (25°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.