NTSB Preliminary: Van's RV-3A, N696DB, fatal accident occurred on June 15, 2026, near Lakeland, Florida

• Location: Lakeland, FL 
• Accident Number: ERA26FA239 
• Date & Time: June 15, 2026, 19:55 Local 
• Registration: N696DB 
• Aircraft: BLESSING RV-3A 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203187/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N696DB

On June 15, 2026, about 1955 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Van’s RV3A, N696DB, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lakeland, Florida. The pilot received fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. 

Review of ADS-B data showed that the pilot departed Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL), Lakeland, Florida, about 1930. A witness, who was also a pilot, stated that he and the accident pilot were going to rendezvous near Orlampa Inc Airport (FA08), Polk City, Florida, and conduct formation flight maneuvers in the area. 

The witness stated that after joining up in formation with the accident pilot, they conducted basic formation straight-and-level flight and turn maneuvers at 140 mph. During the initial formation sequence the accident pilot was the lead airplane. After the formation flight completed a few turns, they conducted a planned lead change. 

According to the witness, who was then serving as the formation lead, he flew the airplane with the autopilot engaged and set to maintain 2,000 ft msl and 140 mph. The witness stated that he used the heading bug to make directional changes, providing a stable platform for the formation. The accident pilot then requested that the witness record a formation break maneuver.

Video recorded by the witness showed the accident airplane initiating a right roll into the break maneuver. During the maneuver, the right wing folded upward to about 90º, and fuel was observed spraying from the right wing root area. The witness reported observing an object separate from the fuselage area as the airplane rolled inverted and entered a dive. The witness watched the airplane as it descended but did not observe the ground impact because it was obscured by trees.

The airplane impacted an agricultural field 6 nm west of FA08. The wreckage debris were isolated to three locations. The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, with the exception of the canopy, right wing, and right flap, which had separated from the airframe. The fuselage came to rest in trees, oriented on a magnetic heading of 210º. The separated right wing was located about 1/4-mi east of the main wreckage. The right flap was about 600 ft south of the right wing. The canopy was not located. 

The fuselage and left wing were crushed and compacted. The right side of the fuselage was completely torn in the accident sequence and the left side of the fuselage remained connected to the left wing and empennage. The entire cockpit and instrument panel were crushed and the instrument panel and gauges were fragmented. The horizontal stabilizers were impact-separated and the rudder was intact. Control continuity was established between the control surfaces to the cockpit through cables and fractured control tubes. 

The engine and propeller remained attached to the crushed firewall, and was embedded about 4 ft into the ground. The propellor hub and remnants of the wooden propellor were splintered and buried beneath the engine. 

A portion of the right wing upper and lower spar cap was removed and retained for examination. 

Mooney M20M / 257 TLS, N488AT, accident occurred on July 8, 2026, near Tallahassee International Airport (TLH/KTLH), Tallahassee, Florida

• Location: Tallahassee, FL 
• Accident Number: ANC26LA070 
• Date & Time: July 8, 2026, 11:48 Local 
• Registration: N488AT 
• Aircraft: Mooney M20M 
• Injuries: 1 Minor 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Ferry

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203362/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N488AT

On July 8, 2026, at 1148 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20 airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tallahassee, Florida. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, the airplane had recently been sold, and he had been hired to ferry it from Florida to Texas. Prior to the flight, a known mechanical issue existed with the No. 5 cylinder. During the flight, the engine began surging, prompting the pilot to divert to Tallahassee International Airport (TLH), Tallahassee, Florida.

While on the approach to TLH, about 1,000 feet mean sea level, all engine power was lost. The airplane subsequently impacted heavily wooded terrain about one-half mile short of Runway 18.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that traveled to the scene, about 14 gallons of fuel were recovered from the wreckage following the accident.

The airplane and engine have been recovered and retained for further examination.

Montana Coyote, N448VQ, fatal accident occurred on July 14, 2026, near Shannon Airport (EZF/KEZF), Fredericksburg, Virginia

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=N448VQ

- History of Flight:
On July 14, 2026, at about 1103 local time, a privately-registered Montana Coyote, N448VQ, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Shannon Airport (EZF/KEZF), Fredericksburg, Virginia. The private pilot/builder/owner sustained fatal injuries. The local flight originated from EZF at 1049.

Preliminary information provided by a gas station employee suggests the pilot refueled the airplane before takeoff.

According to Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed runway 24 and entered a climbing left hand turn (to the south) to an altitude of 1,600 ft. At 1052, about 3 minutes after takeoff, the airplane stopped the climb, and entered a descent to 950 ft. At 1054, the airplane entered a left hand turn to the north. At 1058, the airplane was about 2 miles south of the airport when it entered a right turn, then a left turn to the pattern for runway 24. At 1101, the airplane was at 350 ft, 52 knots groundspeed, and 1.20 miles from the airport when it entered a base-to-final turn for runway 24. At 1102:43, the airplane was on short final, a 0.45 mile from the runway at 175 ft, 48 knots groundspeed. The last ADS-B data point was recorded at 1103:04, the airplane was at 25 ft, 48 knots GS, and descending 250 feet per minute (fpm).

Figure 1: Entire track and top of climb

Figure 2: Base-to-final turn

Figure 3: End of track, note parking lot under airplane was the accident location

A witness stated that “[the plane] sounded like a lawnmower was like, like an engine. Like it was like, ‘pow pow pow pow.’ And then I heard, boom! It sounded like, you know, when you start the lawnmower and it won’t start. It’s like boom! It sounded like that,”

The pilot, aged 78, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. The pilot also held a repairman experimental aircraft certificate for the accident aircraft which was issued on April 2024. His FAA BasicMed Course was dated 5/16/2026.

The accident aircraft, serial number 001, was built in 2024. It was a high wing, side-by-side two-seat configuration, conventional landing gear airplane. It was powered by a Lycoming O-320-D2G engine. The reported stall speed is 30 knots (35 mph).

The airplane came to rest in a dealership parking lot located 700 ft short of the runway 24 threshold. The airplane impacted a vehicle and came to rest next to it. There was no notable debris field leading to the main wreckage. There was no post crash fire. Both wings and tail remained attached to the airframe. Both wings sustained accordion style, leading edge crushing impact damage. Portions of fabric covering the bottom fuselage were ripped apart during the impact sequence. The main cabin was crushed aft. The impact appears consistent with a low altitude aerodynamic stall/spin entry and impact with the parked vehicle with little to no forward airspeed.

Weather conditions at the time were unremarkable.

- METARs:

METAR KEZF 141455Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/19 A3017 RMK AO2 T02820191

METAR KEZF 141515Z AUTO 22003KT 10SM CLR 29/19 A3017 RMK AO2 T02870193

Luscombe 8A, N1164K, fatal accident occurred on July 14, 2026, near Canton, Texas

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=N1164K

- History of Flight:
On July 14, 2026, at about 1356 local time, a privately-registered Luscombe 8A, N1164K, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Canton, Texas. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured.

The FAA reported that the airplane crashed shortly after takeoff under unknown circumstances. Local media reported that the pilot was departing from a pasture runway located in his residence. There is no ADS-B data for the accident flight.

The pilot, aged 69, held an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane multiengine land rating and commercial privileges for airplane single engine land. His third class FAA medical was issued on 1/2025, with a note that he was not valid for any class after 1/31/2026, and that he must use corrective lens(es) to meet vision standards at all required distances. His FAA BasicMed course was dated 5/7/2023. The pilot held type ratings in the Airbus A320, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 787, DC-9, and MD-11. The pilot also held a flight engineer rating.

The airplane came to rest nose down in an open field. Both wings and tail remained attached to the airframe. There was no post crash fire. The cockpit section was crushed aft.

Robinson R44 Raven II, N322TC, accident occurred on July 15, 2026, near Iowa City, Iowa

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=N322TC

- History of Flight:
On July 15, 2026, at about 1942 local time, a Robinson R44 Raven II, N322TC, registered to D&P LLC, sustained substantial damage when it struck a power line and impacted farm field terrain during an aerial application flight near Iowa City, Iowa. The pilot suffered minor injuries. The NTSB is investigating.

Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign, N680UT, incident occurred on July 15, 2026, at Castle Airport (MER/KMER), Atwater, 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=N680UT

- History of Flight:
On July 15, 2026, at about 0929 local time, a Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign, N680UT, sustained unknown damage when it was involved in an incident at Castle Airport (MER/KMER), Atwater, California. The two pilots and five passengers were not injured. The on-demand flight originated from Bowman Field (LOU/KLOU), Louisville, Kentucky.

The FAA reported that the jet diverted to MER due to a hydraulic failure, landed and veered off runway.

ADS-B data shows that the airplane landed on runway 31 and went off the left side going about 49 knots groundspeed.

- Weather:

METAR KMCE 151553Z AUTO 31008KT 10SM CLR 29/09 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP121 T02940089

METAR KMCE 151653Z AUTO 31006KT 10SM CLR 32/09 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP121 T03220089

Schleicher ASW 27, N920KB, accident occurred on July 15, 2026, near Montague Airport-Yreka Rohrer Field (1O5), Montague, 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=N920KB

- History of Flight:
On July 15, 2026, at about 1230 local time, a Schleicher ASW 27 glider, N920KB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Montague, California. The pilot was not injured.

The FAA reported that the glider was released from tow and landed in a field, striking a fence. The NTSB is investigating.

- Weather:

METAR KSIY 151853Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW120 30/06 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP155 T03000061

METAR KSIY 151953Z AUTO 10SM CLR 33/08 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP144 T03280078