June 07, Santa Paula, Calif. / Grumman Tiger

At about 1010 Pacific time, a Grumman AA-5B struck terrain shortly after departing from Santa Paula, killing both aboard. A witness said the airplane departed runway 22 and turned to a left downwind as it climbed. He said it held a high climb angle and appeared to be angling toward the mountains. The tops of the mountains were obscured but there was a patch of blue sky ahead of the airplane over the mountains. The airplane collided with a 55-degree slope about 200 feet below the crest of a ridgeline that ran northeast to southwest. No preaccident anomalies were found.