Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA 1C accident near Hemet, California, September 9, 2013
On September 9, 2013 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 1978 Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA 1C, registered N9923U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Hemet, California (Hemet-Ryan 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
The airplane’s hard landing due to the pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed while on approach after shutting down the engine because of the smoke in the cockpit from a burnt wire that originated from the alternator field terminal and extended to the cockpit.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2013 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hemet, California · Hemet-Ryan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA 1C C, built 1978 · all AA 1Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9923U · no longer on the register · serial AA1C0157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, smoke entered the cockpit and that his passenger thought the engine was on fire. He immediately shut down the engine and opened the canopy a little, which cleared most of the smoke. He then transmitted on the common traffic advisory frequency that he had smoke in the cockpit and was going to make an emergency landing. As the pilot turned the airplane toward the runway, he observed a helicopter on it, and he transmitted his intention to land a second time. The pilot slowed the airplane and then saw the helicopter depart. As the helicopter lifted off, the pilot "tried to make the runway." The pilot reported that, during the approach to landing, the airplane was "too low and too slow," and, subsequently, the airplane landed hard. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a burnt wire that originated from the field terminal of the voltage regulator and extended into the cabin through the engine firewall. It is likely that the burnt wire created the smoke that entered the cockpit. The reason for the burnt wire could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during approach (VFR pattern downwind)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › Electrical pwr sys wiring › Failure
- factor Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Air quality/dust/smoke › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 727 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 651 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 3, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,498 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 3, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 3,498 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSEE San Diego CA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: HMT Hemet CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,314 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 6:58 pm from KRIV, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.