Grumman American Avn AA-5 N1342R

Summary

On 26 July 2025 at about 15:42 local time, a Grumman American Avn AA-5 registered N1342R was involved in an accident near West Glacier, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause has been published yet; this accident is still under investigation.

Date

26 July 2025 at 15:42

Classification

Accident

Location

West Glacier, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Ryan Fld (2MT1)

Coordinates

48.4784, -113.9597

Aircraft

Grumman American Avn AA-5

Registration

N1342R

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25FA223

2 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. The investigation is still open; a final report usually follows one to two years after the accident.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

On July 26, 2025, about 0942 mountain daylight time, a Grumman AA-5, N1342R, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near West Glacier, Montana. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Multiple witnesses located at the remote airstrip reported that the airplane taxied to the approach end of runway 15 and started the takeoff roll. They also reported that there was not an engine run-up prior to takeoff. During this time there were two airplanes flying near the airstrip with the intention of landing and were communicating with the accident airplane. The witnesses on the ground reported that as the airplane was on its takeoff roll, the engine was at a high RPM and sounded normal, but seemed to moving slow. One of the witnesses recalled seeing the flaps retracted during this time. The airplane continued down the grass covered airstrip and did not become airborne until it reached the end of the runway. The airplane collided with trees and terrain and a postimpact fire ensued. The accident site was located in wooded and rocky outcropped terrain on the edge of a clearing about 440 ft from the end of the runway. The accident site was at an elevation of 3,625 ft mean sea level and on a magnetic heading of 152° from the end of the runway. The debris field was about 80 ft long on a directional heading of about 150° magnetic. The main wreckage was the furthest in the debris field and was comprised of the fuselage, empennage, firewall, engine, propeller, and portions of the right wing. The left wing and the outboard right wing were found in the debris field. The wreckage was relocated to a secured facility for further examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.