TAG Titanium Explorer, N665TE, fatal accident occurred on July 13, 2026, near Larkspur, Colorado

• Location: Larkspur, CO 
• Accident Number: CEN26LA254 
• Date & Time: July 13, 2026, 08:00 Local 
• Registration: N665TE 
• Aircraft: Tag Aviation PTY LTD Titanium Explorer 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal 

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203391/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N665TE

On July 13, 2026, about 800 mountain daylight time, a Tag Aviation Pty Ltd Titanium Explorer gyrocopter, N665TE was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Larkspur, Colorado. The pilot passed away in the hospital five days after the accident. The gyrocopter was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. 

According to a friend of the pilot, the pilot flew the gyrocopter from Meadowlake Airport (FLY) Peyton, Colorado, to Central Colorado Airport (AEJ) Buena Vista, Colorado, 4 days before the accident. The pilot and his friend flew their respective gyrocopters around the Buena Vista area several times during that four-day period. The friend said that the gyrocopter was performing normally. 

On the morning of July 13th, the pilot filled the fuel tank with 91 Octane motor gas before he departed back toward FLY. The friend said that the pilot planned to circumnavigate Davis Airfield (AFF) Colorado Springs, Colorado, to the north and then fly back toward the east toward Peyton, Colorado. The pilot departed AEJ about 700. While enroute, he called another friend on his cellular phone to let him know that he was flying over Lake George in Park County, Colorado. He told the friend that everything was fine and he would call him again when he landed safely at FLY. 

About 800, a witness walking her dog outside her home said that she heard the gyrocopter fly overhead. She said the gyrocopter was low and the engine was “struggling.” Then, the engine stopped and the gyrocopter fell through the trees. She reported that the pilot was conscious but not speaking and that fuel was dripping out of the fuel tank. 

The gyrocopter was relatively intact and came to rest on its right side under a group of trees. The rotor blades were bent and cracked. One of the rotor blade tips was sheared off. The three-bladed propeller was still attached at the hub, and the blades were flat and smooth. The needle on the Aviasport gyro rotor tachometer was fully in the red zone at 500 rpm. 

According to the engine and airframe logbooks, N665TE would have been due for an annual condition inspection in September 2026. At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated about 50 hours, and the engine had accumulated about 400 hours. 

The gyrocopter was retained for further examination.

Canadair CF-5D (CF-116D), N845PS, accident occurred on July 10, 2026, at Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV/KMHV), Mojave, California

• Location: Mojave, CA 
• Accident Number: WPR26LA256 
• Date & Time: July 10, 2026, 11:03 Local 
• Registration: N845PS 
• Aircraft: CANADAIR LTD CF-5D 
• Injuries: 2 None 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Business

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203390/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumberTxt=N845PS

On July 10, 2026, about 1103 Pacific daylight time, a Canadair CF-5D, N845PS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mojave, California. The two pilots onboard were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. 

The pilot reported that during the landing roll the left engine fire warning system initiated, which was followed by a right engine fire warning. He stated that he performed the emergency procedure and the airplane came to a stop on the runway, at which time both pilots egressed. 

A witness photographed the airplane in the airport’s traffic pattern prior to landing. A photograph showed the airplane trailing white vapor from the left side of the fuselage underneath the left wing and around the left engine exhaust. 

An airport surveillance video showed the airplane touchdown on the runway with white vapor trailing. The airplane continued to roll down the runway when the white vapor stopped and the airplane caught fire. The airplane came to a stop on the runway where the fire continued to burn near the empennage. 

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage.

The airplane was relocated to a hangar for further examination. 

Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee C, N9062J, fatal accident occurred on July 28, 2026, near Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD/KCHD), Chandler, Arizona

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N9062J

- History of Flight:
On July 28, 2026, at about 1949 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee C, N9062J, registered to True to Life Productions Inc out of Snowflake, Arizona, was destroyed when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD/KCHD), Chandler, Arizona. The pilot was fatally injured.

The airplane was recently sold by the registered owner mentioned above. Flight-tracking history shows that the airplane departed on two local flights out of CHD on July the 24th and 27th.

According to Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, at 1948:25, the airplane was first observed on takeoff from runway 22R. At 1948:46, the airplane was seen approaching the departure end of the runway at 71 knots groundspeed. At 1948:55, the airplane crossed the departure end and was at 1,500 ft and 66 knots groundspeed. For the next few seconds, the airplane continued to climb, but the groundspeed kept going down. At 1949:25, the airplane reached the crest of its climb at 2,000 ft and 61 knots groundspeed when it stopped climbing and entered a shallow descent. At 1949:38, the last ADS-B data point was recorded about 0.80 mile from the departure end at ground elevation with a reported groundspeed of 46 knots and -320 feet per minute vertical rate.

The actual accident site was located located ~0.81 mile from the departure end of runway 22R at the edge of a commercial parking lot. The accident site was also located about 600 ft and to the right side from the last recorded ADS-B data point.

Dashcam video footage showed the airplane in an aggressive right bank/roll and appeared to be slowly recovering before it impacted terrain out of view and a post crash fire ensued.

Figure 1: ADS-B exchange ran through Google Earth, "1" indicates top of climb, "2" indicates last ADS-B data point, "3" indicates impact point

Figure 2: Entire track

Figure 3: End of track

According to Air Traffic Control (ATC) communications, the airplane was cleared for departure from runway 22R: "Cherokee 9062 Juliet Chandler Tower, fly straight out runway 22 right, cleared for takeoff." One minute later, the pilot of another airplane reported the accident: "Hey Tower, I think that airplane that just took off in front of us just crashed." The controller reacted: "Cherokee 62 Juliet... Chandler Tower... you up?" There was no response from the accident pilot. Another pilot reported: "We're 10 miles to the southwest. We've got eyes on the fire and smoke."

The FAA reported: "Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances and post crash fire."

The first identified point of impact was an impression in the dirt that lead to the main wreckage. The main wreckage consisted of the entire airplane. The left wing remained partially attached to the airframe and was impact damaged and consumed by fire. The right wing was impact damaged, separated, and consumed by fire and was located next to the airframe. The tail remained attached to the fuselage and remained free of extensive impact or fire damage. The main cabin area was consumed by fire. There was a bush that was pushed by the airplane from the dirt to the parking lot surface. The impact appears consistent with a low altitude aerodynamic stall/accelerated stall. The airplane most likely impacted terrain in a right wing low, nose level altitude.

Figure 4: Dashcam sequence

Figure 5

Figure 6

KCHD features two runways, runway 4R/22L (4870 x 75 ft) and runway 4L/22R (4401 x 75 ft). The airport field elevation is 1243.4 ft.

- Weather:

The 1947 weather observation at KCHD included: Winds 230 at 7 knots, 10 miles visibility, temperature 39°C, dew point 16°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.74 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 4567 ft.

(1) METARs:

METAR KCHD 290147Z 27004KT 10SM CLR 40/15 A2973

METAR KCHD 290247Z 23007KT 10SM CLR 39/16 A2974 <<<

METAR KCHD 290355Z AUTO 26007KT 10SM CLR 38/16 A2976 RMK AO2 T03770155

(2) Area Forecast Discussion:

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
400 PM MST Tue Jul 28 2026

.UPDATE...
Updated Aviation

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- High pressure will center itself over Arizona and strengthen late
this week resulting in hotter temperatures and widespread major to
extreme Heat Risk.

- Extreme Heat Warnings have been expanded to cover the entire
forecast area starting Thursday, and continuing through the weekend.

- Daily chances for showers and thunderstorms will continue over
eastern Arizona high terrain, but will decrease considerably and
become almost entirely confined to the most prominent terrain
features the remainder of the week.

Cirrus SR22, N704R, incident occurred on July 28, 2026, near O’Neill, Nebraska

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N704R

- History of Flight:
On July 28, 2026, at about 1737 local, a Cirrus SR22, N704R, registered to Bravo Fox Squared LLC, was not damaged following a forced landing on a road due to engine issues near O’Neill, Nebraska. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight originated from Dickinson Airport (DIK/KDIK), Dickinson, North Dakota, at 1435, and was destined to Lincoln Airport (LNK/KLNK), Lincoln, Nebraska.

Preliminary ADS-B data shows that the airplane was cruising at 11,000 ft when it entered a right hand descent, probably in an attempt to divert to nearby O'Neill Municipal Airport (KONL), O'Neill, Nebraska.

Figure 1: Entire track (for both initial and incident flights)

Figure 2: Descent from cruise altitude

Figure 3: End of track

- Weather:

METAR KONL 282215Z AUTO 11008G15KT 10SM CLR 34/16 A2992 RMK AO2 T03410161

METAR KONL 282235Z AUTO 06011KT 10SM CLR 34/18 A2991 RMK AO2 T03430175

METAR KONL 282255Z AUTO 09010KT 10SM CLR 34/19 A2991 RMK AO2 T03360189

Piper J3C-65 Cub, N9811X, incident occurred on July 28, 2026, in San Diego, California

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N9811X

- History of Flight:
On July 28, 2026, at about 1018 local time, a privately-registered Piper J3C-65 Cub, N9811X, sustained unknown damage when it ground looped on landing in San Diego, California. The pilot was not injured.

Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP, N572BW, incident occurred on July 27, 2026, at New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB/KEWB), New Bedford, Massachusetts

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N572BW

- History of Flight:
On July 11, 2026, at about 1554 local time, a Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP, N572BW, registered to Bridgewater State University, sustained unknown damage when it veered off runway 14 at New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB/KEWB), New Bedford, Massachusetts. The sole student pilot onboard was not injured. The local training flight originated at 1509.

Cessna 182 Skylane, N3DZ, incident occurred on July 11, 2026, at Heber Airpark (K30), Gansevoort, New York

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N3DZ

- History of Flight:
On July 11, 2026, at about 0915 local time, a Cessna 182 Skylane, N3DZ, registered to Xtreme Flying Club LLC, sustained unknown damage when it experienced a crankshaft failure while shutting down and damaged the cowling. The pilot was not injured.