On August 12, 1996, about 1130 hours Pacific daylight time, an American AA-1, N5616L, crashed in a mountainous area near Rosamond, California. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight to Grants Pass, Oregon. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight departed William J. Fox Airport, Lancaster, California, about 1045 hours. A deputy sheriff reported that a resident near the accident site found the airplane on August 13, 1996, at 1745 hours. The pilot said in a telephone interview conducted on August 15, 1996, that he topped off the fuel tanks before departing William J. Fox Airport. He said that the airplane would not clear the mountain pass near Rosamond due to the high density altitude. After realizing that the airplane would not negotiate the mountain pass, he began to circle to gain additional altitude, but the airplane struck a tree. The pilot said that the engine operated normally.