Grumman AA5B and Champion 7ECA mid-air collision near Pacifica, California, February 20, 1995
On February 20, 1995 at about 9:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Grumman AA5B (N28003) and Champion 7ECA (N9082L), were involved in a mid-air collision near Pacifica, California. No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE GRUMMAN PILOT TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT AND CLEARANCE FROM THE CITABRIA, WHILE OVERTAKING THAT AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HAZY SKY CONDITION AND THE GRUMMAN PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION TO OTHER TRAFFIC.
FAILURE OF THE GRUMMAN PILOT TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT AND CLEARANCE FROM THE CITABRIA, WHILE OVERTAKING THAT AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HAZY SKY CONDITION AND THE GRUMMAN PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION TO OTHER TRAFFIC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 1995 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Pacifica, California · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Grumman AA5B
- Registration
- N28003 · registry record · serial AA5B0935
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N9082L · registry record · serial 781-70
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Grumman AA5B final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GRUMMAN AA5B COLLIDED WITH A CHAMPION 7ECA WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1,300 FEET MSL. NEITHER THE GRUMMAN PILOT NOR THE CHAMPION PILOT HAD PREARRANGED TO FLY IN FORMATION. BOTH AIRPLANES DEPARTED FROM THE SAME AIRPORT AND HAPPENED TO BE FLYING ALONG THE SAME NORTHERLY COASTAL ROUTE. THE PILOT IN THE FASTER FLYING GRUMMAN OBSERVED THE CHAMPION AHEAD, AND INFORMED THE PILOT THAT HE WOULD PASS HIM ON HIS LEFT SIDE. THE CHAMPION PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE TRANSMISSION, AND OBSERVED THE GRUMMAN APPROACH FROM HIS 8 O'CLOCK POSITION AND TRAVEL TO HIS 9 O'CLOCK POSITION. THE CHAMPION MAINTAINED A STEADY ALTITUDE AND HEADING. BOTH PILOTS THEN OBSERVED A SOUTHBOUND APPROACHING TWIN-ENGINE AIRPLANE AT ABOUT THEIR ALTITUDE IN THE HAZY SKY. THE GRUMMAN PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED TOWARD THE TWIN, AND HE LOST SIGHT OF THE CHAMPION. SECONDS LATER, THE GRUMMAN'S PROPELLER PARTIALLY SEVERED THE CHAMPION'S LEFT WINGTIP. BOTH AIRPLANES LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER MISHAP.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Champion 7ECA final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GRUMMAN AA5B COLLIDED WITH A CHAMPION 7ECA WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1,300 FEET MSL. NEITHER THE GRUMMAN PILOT NOR THE CHAMPION PILOT HAD PREARRANGED TO FLY IN FORMATION. BOTH AIRPLANES DEPARTED FROM THE SAME AIRPORT AND HAPPENED TO BE FLYING ALONG THE SAME NORTHERLY COASTAL ROUTE. THE PILOT IN THE FASTER FLYING GRUMMAN OBSERVED THE CHAMPION AHEAD, AND INFORMED THE PILOT THAT HE WOULD PASS HIM ON HIS LEFT SIDE. THE CHAMPION PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE TRANSMISSION, AND OBSERVED THE GRUMMAN APPROACH FROM HIS 8 O'CLOCK POSITION AND TRAVEL TO HIS 9 O'CLOCK POSITION. THE CHAMPION MAINTAINED A STEADY ALTITUDE AND HEADING. BOTH PILOTS THEN OBSERVED A SOUTHBOUND APPROACHING TWIN-ENGINE AIRPLANE AT ABOUT THEIR ALTITUDE IN THE HAZY SKY. THE GRUMMAN PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED TOWARD THE TWIN, AND HE LOST SIGHT OF THE CHAMPION. SECONDS LATER, THE GRUMMAN'S PROPELLER PARTIALLY SEVERED THE CHAMPION'S LEFT WINGTIP. BOTH AIRPLANES LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER MISHAP.
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 for the Grumman AA5B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- MIDAIR COLLISION during cruise - normal
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 768 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 759 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 3
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,489 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, January 2, 1995; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: HAF Half Moon Bay CA at 8:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°C, dew point 0°C
- Altimeter: 30 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Champion 7ECA from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- MIDAIR COLLISION during cruise
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 513 hours in all; 459 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 469 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 2
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,078 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, June 16, 1994; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: HAF Half Moon Bay CA at 9:05 pm
- Destination: O56 Novato CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 LAX95LA114.