Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-1B accident near River Falls, Wisconsin, June 1, 2022
On June 1, 2022 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 1972 Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-1B, registered N6298L, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near River Falls, Wisconsin (St Croix Riviera airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s and flight instructor’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2022 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- River Falls, Wisconsin · St Croix Riviera · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-1B, built 1972 · all AA-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6298L · no longer on the register · serial AA1B0098
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot reported problems with the airplane’s engine shortly after takeoff. The flight instructor stated that the engine “quit abruptly” and “seized,” and the student pilot stated that the engine “locked up” and lost total power. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and made a forced landing in a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s left wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no fuel remaining in the wing tanks and no evidence of a fuel spill. The fuel system was not compromised. According to the accident report submitted by the flight instructor they departed with 8 gallons of fuel and were flying for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Postaccident examination revealed that the engine rotated freely, and compression was verified on all cylinders. Both magnetos produced spark when rotated. Thus, the engine likely lost power due to fuel exhaustion.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Fuel exhaustion during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,500 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 38 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,986 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 19, 2021
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6WI2 River Falls WI at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 1,700 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KSTP, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KSTP 011203Z 00000KT 10SM BKN025 12/09 A3009 RMK AO2 T01220094= METAR KSTP 011653Z VRB04KT 10SM SCT050 19/07 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP177 T01890072=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on November 8, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Student) | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Information from Flight Instructor | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Roc with FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photograph of Accident | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 21 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.