What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On September 5, 2026, at approximately 1345 PDT, Grumman AA-5 privacy data omitted was involved in a fatal accident during takeoff from Sierra Sky Park (E79), Fresno, California. The pilot-in-command and three passengers were fatally injured.
Witness statements and neighborhood security camera footage showed the aircraft departing in a high angle-of-attack attitude and beginning to oscillate shortly after liftoff. The aircraft then lost altitude, stalled near the end of the takeoff phase, struck trees, and impacted the ground about 600 feet beyond the runway end. A post-crash fire destroyed the aircraft.
Before departure, the pilot was troubleshooting radio communication issues and reported a significant RPM drop on the left magneto to the aircraft owner by text message.
The pilot had been attempting to depart for nearly an hour, had experienced both radio and engine-related discrepancies, and elected to continue the fight with a full fuel load and four persons on board. Weather and runway conditions were not factors.
The investigation remains ongoing.
As the FAA filed it
ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 1345 PDT, GRUMMAN AA-5 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT DURING TAKEOFF FROM SIERRA SKY PARK (E79), FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED.
WITNESS STATEMENTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTING IN A HIGH ANGLE-OF-ATTACK ATTITUDE AND BEGINNING TO OSCILLATE SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF. THE AIRCRAFT THEN LOST ALTITUDE, STALLED NEAR THE END OF THE TAKEOFF PHASE, STRUCK TREES, AND IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 600 FEET BEYOND THE RUNWAY END. A POST-CRASH FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT.
BEFORE DEPARTURE, THE PILOT WAS TROUBLESHOOTING RADIO COMMUNICATION ISSUES AND REPORTED A SIGNIFICANT RPM DROP ON THE LEFT MAGNETO TO THE AIRCRAFT OWNER BY TEXT MESSAGE.
THE PILOT HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO DEPART FOR NEARLY AN HOUR, HAD EXPERIENCED BOTH RADIO AND ENGINE-RELATED DISCREPANCIES, AND ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT WITH A FULL FUEL LOAD AND FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD. WEATHER AND RUNWAY CONDITIONS WERE NOT FACTORS.
THE INVESTIGATION REMAINS ONGOING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.