Van's RV-8, C-GFWR, accident occurred on August 5, 2026, at Great Falls International Airport (GTF/KGTF), Great Falls, Montana

• Location: Great Falls, MT 
• Accident Number: WPR26LA295 
• Date & Time: August 5, 2026, 10:34 Local 
• Registration: C-GFWR 
• Aircraft: Vans RV8 
• Injuries: 1 None 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal 

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203563/pdf

https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CCARCS-RIACC/ADet.aspx?id=531133&rfr=RchSimp.aspx

On August 5, 2026, at about 1034 mountain daylight time, a Van’s Aircraft RV-8, C-GFWR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Great Falls, Montana. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. 

The airplane departed Villeneuve Airport (CZVL), near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and landed on runway 21 at Great Falls International Airport (KGTF), Great Falls, Montana. During the landing rollout, the airplane veered right. The pilot applied engine power while attempting to regain directional control, and the airplane subsequently ground looped to the right and departed the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing contacted the ground. The airplane came to rest in the grass adjacent to the runway. 

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, and fuselage. The pilot reported that the tailwheel assembly had been replaced about two weeks before the accident and that the accident flight was the airplane’s first flight and landing since the replacement. 

The airplane was retained for examination.

Cessna 177B Cardinal, N34852, accident occurred on August 5, 2026, near Perris, California

• Location: Perris, CA 
• Accident Number: WPR26LA291 
• Date & Time: August 5, 2026, 11:17 Local 
• Registration: N34852 
• Aircraft: Cessna 177B 
• Injuries: 2 None 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203540/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N34852

On August 5, 2026, at 1117 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 177B, N34852, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Perris, California. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. 

According to both pilots, after completing a series of maneuvers, the engine lost power while positioning the airplane to practice S-turns at 1,500 ft AGL. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful so the flight instructor performed an emergency landing to a field. During landing the airplane struck vegetation and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilots reported 44 gallons of fuel onboard at takeoff and they had been airborne about 1.5 hrs when the engine quit.

Piper PA-22-150 Tri-Pacer, N4535A, fatal accident occurred on July 27, 2026, at Dan Creek Airstrip near Chitina, Alaska

• Location: Chitina, AK 
• Accident Number: ANC26FA077 
• Date & Time: July 27, 2026, 21:30 Local 
• Registration: N4535A 
• Aircraft: Piper PA22 
• Injuries: 3 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203476/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N4535A

On July 27, 2026, about 2130 Alaska daylight time, a deregistered Piper PA-22-150 airplane, N4535A, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Chitina, Alaska. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. 

According to witnesses, the pilot and two passengers departed McCarthy Airport, McCarthy, Alaska, to drop off the passengers and supplies at the upper Dan Creek airstrip, located about 12 miles southeast of McCarthy. The upper Dan Creek airstrip is an uncharted private strip that is generally considered one way in and out, surrounded by steeply rising terrain, and goarounds are not recommended. 

Multiple witnesses, located on the ground in the vicinity of the airstrip, reported hearing the airplane approaching the southeast runway for landing at a normal approach power setting. The witnesses stated that they then heard the airplane’s engine increase to a high-power setting, then there was a moment of silence, followed by the sound of an impact.

The airplane impacted a berm on a rock-covered riverbank in a left-wing-low flight attitude about 740 ft north of the airstrip. The wreckage was oriented on a northwest heading. All four corners of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The outboard portion of the left wing was bent downwards and aft. The fuselage, inboard left wing, and portions of the inboard right wing were consumed by a postimpact fire. 

During the onsite investigation, no preimpact anomalies were visually observed with the flight control system. The fuel selector was positioned on the left tank, and 100LL aviation fuel was present in the left wing. The throttle was found in the idle position and was bent in the direction of the pilot. The propeller blades exhibited rotational signatures including leading edge tip damage and chordwise witness marks, indicative of operation at a low-power setting upon impact. 

The engine has been recovered to a secure facility for further examination. 

Glasair Sportsman 2+2, N202AZ, fatal accident occurred on August 10, 2026, near Pine, Arizona

• Location: Pine, AZ 
• Accident Number: WPR26FA301 
• Date & Time: August 10, 2026, 18:35 Local 
• Registration: N202AZ 
• Aircraft: New Glasair Sportsman 2 Plus 2 
• Injuries: 2 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal 

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203571/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumberTxt=N202AZ

On August 10, 2026, at about 1835 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur built Glasair Sportsman 2 Plus 2 airplane, N202AZ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Pine, Arizona. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. 

According to preliminary ADS-B data, the airplane departed from runway 06 at Payson Airport (PAN), Payson, Arizona about 1827:07. The airplane flew on a northwest heading, climbing to about 5,850 ft mean sea level (msl) at 1831:51, before turning to the southwest above mountainous terrain about 7 nautical miles (nm) northwest of PAN. The airplane proceeded to the southwest and descended into a canyon, when the ADS-B signal was lost at 1835:47, about an altitude of 4,675 ft msl (about 680 ft above ground level and 136 ft above the canyon rim). 

The airplane impacted terrain about 3 nm west of the last ADS-B data point, on the northwestern face of a draw at an elevation of about 3,994 ft msl. The accident site area was comprised of roughly 45° sloping terrain with desert junipers and prickly pear cacti scattered along the rocky slope. The first identifiable point of impact (FIPOI) was a desert juniper with separated and damaged branches along with the left wing tip located at the base of the tree. The FIPOI was located about 791 ft above the base of the ravine, and about 1,300 ft below the ridgeline. The wreckage debris path was about 102 ft in length and oriented on a magnetic heading of 175°. The left wing, left aileron, left flap, right wing tip, fuselage, empennage, and engine were distributed throughout the wreckage debris path. A majority of the wreckage was consumed by a post impact fire. The fuselage came to rest in a right wing low, nose down attitude, on a heading of about 022 ° magnetic. The propeller was separated from the crankshaft aft of the propeller flange. Both propeller blades exhibited “S” bending, and leadingedge gouges. 

The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.  

NTSB Preliminary: Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, N8422P, fatal accident occurred on August 4, 2026, near Bethany, Missouri

• Location: Bethany, MO 
• Accident Number: CEN26FA280 
• Date & Time: August 4, 2026, 18:39 Local 
• Registration: N8422P 
• Aircraft: Piper PA-24-250 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203525/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N8422P

On August 4, 2026, about 1839 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane, N8422P, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Bethany, Missouri. The pilot received fatal injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 flight. 

The pilot, who was also the airplane owner, departed on a personal flight under visual flight rules from Peoria International Airport Peoria, Illinois, to Rapid City Regional Airport, Rapid City, South Dakota. Preliminary radar data showed that the flight climbed to an initial cruise altitude of about 13,000 ft msl after departure and operated at an altitude about 12,500 ft msl for about 90 minutes. The cruise altitude increased above 18,000 ft msl and into Class A airspace during the flight, which operated without air traffic control clearance or services. A review of weather data showed the flight entered convective activity after which it descended and impacted terrain. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. 

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it was not equipped with an installed breathable or a portable breathable oxygen system. The postaccident examination revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation.

Mooney M20G Statesman, N6916N, accident occurred on August 13, 2026, near Luling, Texas

• Location: Luling, TX 
• Accident Number: CEN26LA287 
• Date & Time: August 13, 2026, 13:02 Local 
• Registration: N6916N 
• Aircraft: Mooney M20G 
• Injuries: 1 Minor 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203588/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N6916N

On August 13, 2026, about 1302 central daylight time, a Mooney M20G airplane, N6916N, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Luling, Texas. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. 

According to ADS-B data, the flight originated from the David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH), Houston, Texas, about 1058. The airplane proceeded to the west-southwest toward San Antonio, Texas, for about an hour. About this time, the pilot contacted San Antonio Approach Control and declared an emergency. The pilot informed the air traffic controller that the airplane’s engine had lost power. The controller advised the pilot of an airport 7 miles northeast. The pilot requested a vector to the airport which the controller supplied. The pilot later reported having the airport in-sight before the airplane’s position reports ceased. 

The pilot reported that he executed a forced landing to a road. He said that during the landing roll, the airplane’s left wingtip contacted vegetation along the side of the road which pulled the airplane to the left. The main landing gear went onto the shoulder of the road and the airplane veered off the road and struck trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its left wing.

Bell 47G-2, N65520, accident occurred on June 22, 2026, near Troy, Missouri

• Location: Troy, MO 
• Accident Number: CEN26LA234 
• Date & Time: June 22, 2026, 18:40 Local 
• Registration: N65520 
• Aircraft: Bell 47G-2 
• Injuries: 1 Serious 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203244/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumberTxt=N65520

On June 22, 2026, about 1840 central daylight time, a Bell 47G-2 helicopter, N65520, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Troy, Missouri. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. 

The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice hovering and traffic patterns at Troy Airpark (02MO), Troy, Missouri. After completing several traffic patterns to runway 26, he switched directions to depart on runway 8. The pilot stated that during the climb after translational lift, 50 to 75 ft above ground level, the helicopter began an uncommanded left roll. The pilot was unable to stop the left roll with a right cyclic input. The helicopter continued to roll left as it descended into trees. The helicopter came to rest on its right side. A couple of individuals immediately responded to the accident site to assist the pilot from the helicopter. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and tail rotor driveshaft.