# NTSB CEN26LA208: American AA-1A, N6416L, Amery, WI, May 30, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: May 30, 2026, 11:13 local (16:13 UTC)
- Place: Amery, WI
- Coordinates: 45.263021, -92.375478 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2630&lon=-92.3755&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203092
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA208
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203092/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA208

## Preliminary report

On May 30, 2026, about 1113 central daylight time, a Grumman AA-1A airplane, N6416L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Amery, Wisconsin. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The pilot reported that while en route on a positioning flight, he felt a sudden violent shaking of the airframe with a partial loss of engine power. He attempted to correct the power loss by applying carburetor heat, turning on the fuel pump, and switching fuel tanks; however, the shaking continued until the oil pressure decreased to zero followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot established a best glide attitude and attempted to reach the nearest airport, which was Amery Municipal Airport in Amery, Wisconsin. While en route, the pilot realized he would not make the runway and chose to conduct a forced off-field landing into an open field about two nautical miles from the runway. During the off-field landing, both main landing gear collapsed which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. During recovery of the airplane, the engine was observed to have a hole in the crankcase next to the No. 4 cylinder. 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.

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [American AA-1A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0630710), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6416L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6416L), registered now, S/N AA1A-0416, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN AVIATION AA-1A
- Registry model: [American AA-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1a) (registry code 0630710) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA1A-0416
- Year built: 1972
- Airframe hours: 3573
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Spotlite Reality, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2026
- Departed: LUM, Menomonie, WI
- Destination: BRD, Brainerd, MN
- Airport: NA
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: KOEO, 14 nm away
- METAR: METAR KOEO 301615Z AUTO 12015KT 10SM CLR 24/07 A3010 RMK AO2 T02410069

## 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 20260530005309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260530005309A), May 30, 2026: American Aviation AA-1A, Amery, WI, Substantial damage. The pilot was ferrying an aircraft from seller to purchaser over four states. After two stops for fuel and enroute on his final leg at 2400 feet altitude, the…

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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