American AA-5 accident near Jurupa Valley, California, May 12, 2026
On May 12, 2026 at about 3:40 am local time, a 1972 American AA-5, registered N5832L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Jurupa Valley, California (Flabob Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2026 · about 3:40 am local time
- Place
- Jurupa Valley, California · Flabob Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American AA-5, built 1972 · all AA-5s on the register
- Registration
- N5832L · registry record · serial AA5-0232
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Recent experience › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Ground support/equipment › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway lighting › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,056 hours in all; 1,726 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,936 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 28, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,201 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 23, 2025; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O360-A4M (piston); 4,360 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06/2, 3,190 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from KRAL, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRAL 110253Z 26007KT 10SM CLR 22/14 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP124 T02170139 53017
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2026. 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 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statements | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 WPR26LA182.