What happened
On October 29, 2025, at approximately 1820 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5B, registration N74323, was involved in an accident near Santa Ynez, California. The flight was being operated under Part 91 regulations for personal use, with the pilot intending to practice maneuvers within and above the airport traffic pattern.
After departing from runway 26 and following noise-abatement climb-out procedures, the engine began operating abnormally. Within approximately three seconds, the aircraft suffered a total loss of power. The pilot attempted a shallow turn back toward the airport but determined the aircraft could not maintain enough altitude to reach the runway.
The pilot subsequently searched for an off-airport landing site and elected to touch down in a vineyard located just outside the airport perimeter. During the landing, the aircraft struck grapevines and fence posts, causing substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
An FAA inspector conducted an initial examination of the aircraft. The inspection revealed that the impact caused the fuel tanks to rupture. However, a sample of liquid drained from the inboard fuel tanks was clean of debris and had a typical fuel odor. An external examination of the engine showed no evidence of holes or catastrophic damage. The wreckage was retained for further study.