# NTSB CEN26LA123: Grumman AA5, N9939U, Admire, KS, February 23, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: February 23, 2026, 09:58 local (15:58 UTC)
- Place: Admire, KS · Off-Airport Landing in Cornfield. GPS coordinated provided by police
- Coordinates: 38.7355, -96.09939 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7355&lon=-96.0994&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202486
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA123
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202486/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA123

## Preliminary report

On February 23, 2026, about 0958 central standard time, a Grumman AA-5A airplane, N9939U, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Admire, Kansas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane was equipped with long-range fuel tanks and the pilot stated that on the day of the accident, he fully fueled the airplane and departed from the Ellington Airport (LUG), Lewisburg, Tennessee. Based on ADS-B data and pilot recollection, the airplane departed LUG about 0440 and flew to Kansas City Downtown Airport – Wheeler Field (MKC), Kansas City, Missouri, landing about 0825. After a brief stop, the airplane departed MKC about 0910 and headed towards Council Grove Airport (K63), Council Grove, Kansas. While the airplane was in cruise flight at 2,500 ft mean sea level, the pilot reported the engine RPM began to increase and then decrease. When the engine power began to decrease, and he switched fuel tanks, but was unable to restore engine power. He performed a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the landing gear collapsed, and both wings were substantially damaged. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Unknown: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9939U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9939U), registered now, S/N AA5A0339, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA5 (A)
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5A0339
- Year built: 1977
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KMKC, Kansas City, MO
- Destination: K63, Council Grove, KS
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter: 30.64 inHg
- Observed at: FOE, 24 nm away
- METAR: METAR KFOE 231553Z 03006KT 10SM CLR M07/M14 A3064 RMK AO2 SLP393 T10721144

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260223004719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260223004719A), Feb 23, 2026: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A, Admire, KS, Substantial damage. On February 23, 2026, aircraft Grumman American aircraft, model AA-5A departed ellington airport (lug), lewisburg, TN enroute to council grove, KS (K63) via…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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