Grumman AA5B accident near Fryburg, North Dakota, June 25, 1996
On June 25, 1996 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Grumman AA5B, registered N6249L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fryburg, North Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors were the fog, low ceiling, and rising terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1996 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fryburg, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA5B
- Registration
- N6249L · no longer on the register · serial AA1B-0049
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported low fog in the vicinity of the accident site. One witness reported that he observed the accident airplane circling over Medora, North Dakota about 1000 mdt. Another witness, who was two miles west of the accident site, reported that she observed the airplane flying westbound 'low enough to see into the cockpit.' The accident site was located on the upward slope of a 60-degree incline. Examination of the wreckage revealed the throttle was in the full forward position and the yolk was trapped in the full aft position. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was found.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 260 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,873 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,465 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D54 West Fargo ND at 1:30 pm
- Destination: 20U Beach ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from DIK, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.