Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fryburg, North Dakota 58622
Tuesady, June 25, 1996 10:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors were the fog, low ceiling, and rising terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/25/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City FRYBURG
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58622
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 852 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID DIK
Elevation of weather observation facility 2590
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1665
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 26 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1745
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6249L
NTSB Number CHI96LA220
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman
Aircraft Model AA5B
Aircraft Series Identifier AA5B
Aircraft Serial Number AA1B-0049
Certified Max Gross Weight 1465
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1873
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HAROLD M. VIGESAA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3244 LONGFELLOW
Aircraft Owner City FARGO
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58102
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code D54
Departure City WEST FARGO
Departure State ND
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 20U
Destination City BEACH
Destination State ND
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --