Grumman AA1C accident near San Diego, California, October 27, 1996
On October 27, 1996 at about 6:49 pm local time, a Grumman AA1C, registered N9519U, was destroyed in an accident near San Diego, California (Brown Field Municipal). 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
loss of engine power on final approach for undetermined reason(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1996 · about 6:49 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Brown Field Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA1C
- Registration
- N9519U · no longer on the register · serial AA1C0013
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he flew most of the 1.2-hour flight with the right fuel tank selected. While on approach for landing, he selected the left tank, which was 3/4 full. Approximately 5 minutes later, after completing the landing checklist, and while on 1.5 mile final approach at approximately 700 feet agl, he noted that there was no power available from the engine when he advanced the throttle. While maneuvering to an off-airport landing, first the right wing, and then the nose, contacted the ground, and the aircraft came to rest, inverted, in a field. Emergency personnel reported there was no evident fuel smell at the site; however, the operator of the aircraft reported that the aircraft had been fueled to capacity the previous day, and according to the hour meter in the aircraft, had flown only 2.0 hours, since being fueled.
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: 85 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1996; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDM at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26R, 7,999 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from SDM, 2 miles away
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.