Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5 accident near West Glacier, Montana, July 26, 2025
On July 26, 2025 at about 3:42 pm local time, a 1975 Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5, registered N1342R, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near West Glacier, Montana (Ryan Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- July 26, 2025 · about 3:42 pm local time
- Place
- West Glacier, Montana · Ryan Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman American Avn. CORP. AA-5, built 1975 · all AA-5s on the register
- Registration
- N1342R · registry record · serial AA5-0742
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from KGPI, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGPI 261555Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 21/09 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP105 T02060094=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 WPR25FA223.