# NTSB WPR26LA182: American AA-5, N5832L, Jurupa Valley, CA, May 12, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 11, 2026, 20:40 local (May 12, 2026, 03:40 UTC) - Place: Jurupa Valley, CA - Coordinates: 33.989026, -117.40765 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9890&lon=-117.4077&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 20, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA Riverside FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202973 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202973/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202973 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA182 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to land at night on a runway without illuminated runway lights. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to review NOTAMs for a nightly airport closure. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [American AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md?model=0631410), [All aircraft, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0631410), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=0631410), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: ground support/equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017070): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017070/cases.md?model=0631410), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017070/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway lighting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017015): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017015/cases.md?model=0631410), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [American AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0631410), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had planned the flight to include three take-offs and landings after dark, to renew his night currency after several years of not flying at night. He entered the traffic pattern in near-dark conditions and attempted several times to activate the pilot controlled runway lights, but was unable to do so, and elected to land without the runway lights illuminated. He reported that he lost visual contact with the runway and started searching for the runway while judging his position based on the airport buildings. At about 20-30 ft above the surface, he observed the ground just in front of the airplane and realized the airplane was not aligned with the runway. He added power to perform a go-around, but the airplane struck an airport perimeter fence located to the left of the runway. The airplane spun around to the right before coming to rest in the dirt/grass area next to the runway. During the accident sequence the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. According to the pilot, he did not review the FAA notice to airmen (NOTAM) advising that the airport was closed daily from sunset to sunrise, which was in effect at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5832L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5832L), registered now, S/N AA5-0232, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN AA-5 - Registry model: [American AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-5) (registry code 0631410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5-0232 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 4201 - Engines: Lycoming O360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 2025, 42 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: RIR, Flabob Airport, runway 06/24, 3,190 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review June 28, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,056 total, 1,726 in this make and model, 1,936 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KRAL, 3 nm away - METAR: METAR KRAL 110253Z 26007KT 10SM CLR 22/14 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP124 T02170139 53017 ## 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 20260511008269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260511008269A), May 11, 2026: American AA-5, Riverside, CA, Substantial damage. On 05/11/2026 [privacy data omitted] departed krir at 7:41PM local time in daylight visual meteorological conditions, with the pilot as the only occupant and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202973. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20393210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed_Form6120_1_5832L_Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20393864&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot-ROC_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20393682&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N5832LAirportOpsReport_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20465174&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA182_Photos_Diagrams%20-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.