Grumman AA5 accident near Admire, Kansas, February 23, 2026
On February 23, 2026 at about 3:58 pm local time, a 1977 Grumman AA5, registered N9939U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Admire, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 2026 · about 3:58 pm local time
- Place
- Admire, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA5 A, built 1977
- Registration
- N9939U · registry record · serial AA5A0339
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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 unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: KMKC Kansas City MO at 3:10 pm
- Destination: K63 Council Grove KS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.64 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from FOE, 24 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFOE 231553Z 03006KT 10SM CLR M07/M14 A3064 RMK AO2 SLP393 T10721144
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA123.