# NTSB WPR25FA223: Grumman American Avn. AA-5, N1342R, West Glacier, MT, July 26, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: July 26, 2025, 09:42 local (15:42 UTC)
- Place: West Glacier, MT
- Coordinates: 48.478384, -113.95967
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4784&lon=-113.9597&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO, Lycoming Engines
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200635
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25FA223
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200635/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA223

## Preliminary report

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.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1342R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1342R), registered now, S/N AA5-0742, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5) (registry code 3960104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5-0742
- Year built: 1975
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 2MT1, Ryan Fld

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: KGPI, 16 nm away
- METAR: METAR KGPI 261555Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 21/09 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP105 T02060094=

## 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 20250726010439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250726010439A), Jul 26, 2025: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5, West Glacier, MT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. On July 26, 2025, at 0942 MDT, a Grumman American AA-5, [privacy data omitted], crashed on takeoff into trees at Ryan Field, West Glacier, Montana, while on a…

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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