On September 5, 2026, a Grumman American AA-5, registration N6510L, crashed near Sierra Sky Park Airport in Fresno, California, killing the pilot and three passengers. The NTSB preliminary report states that the aircraft was destroyed in the accident.
Surveillance video showed the four occupants boarding the aircraft at the owner’s residence before taxiing toward runway 30. The airplane began its takeoff roll but the pilot aborted the attempt about halfway down the runway.
It continued toward the departure end, turned around and taxied back toward the runway approach end.
At that point, the pilot contacted the owner by text message about a radio problem. The airplane was then taxied back to the owner’s residence, where a mechanic was contacted to troubleshoot the radio issue.
After the aircraft had been shut down and the mechanic approached, the airplane was later seen taxiing back toward the runway.
Witnesses reported that the aircraft again began its takeoff from runway 30. It lifted off about 1,000 feet from the departure end and immediately pitched up sharply into a nose-high attitude. Witnesses said the engine sounded weak, although they did not hear any misfires or sputtering.
The aircraft continued down the remaining runway at approximately 30 feet above ground level while maintaining the nose-high attitude. Further surveillance footage showed it reaching about 40 feet above ground before disappearing from view.
The crash site was located approximately 1,000 feet northwest of the departure end of runway 30, in a washout at the top of sloping terrain. The first identified point of contact was a large branch near the top of a 40-foot tree. Broken branches and limbs were found around the impacted trees.
The airplane came to rest upright in the washout, and its nose landing gear had separated from the aircraft. A post-impact fire consumed most of the wreckage and burned approximately one acre of surrounding terrain. The wreckage was subsequently moved to a secured facility for further examination.
All four occupants died: the pilot and three passengers. The aircraft was destroyed.
The NTSB preliminary report does not yet establish why the aircraft remained in a nose-high attitude or why it failed to climb normally. The reported weak engine sound, earlier aborted takeoff and radio problem are among the circumstances investigators will examine.
The investigation remains ongoing. Examination of the wreckage and aircraft systems will be important in determining whether an engine, mechanical, operational or other factor contributed to the crash. The preliminary findings are subject to change, and a final determination of the probable cause has not yet been made.
