Tuesday, May 12, 2026

NTSB Preliminary: Beechcraft 58 Baron, N2063G, fatal accident occurred on April 13, 2026, in New Market, Tennessee

  • Location: New Market, TN 
  • Accident Number: ERA26FA165 
  • Date & Time: April 13, 2026, 13:08 Local 
  • Registration: N2063G 
  • Aircraft: Beech 58 
  • Injuries: 2 Fatal 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202813/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N2063G

On April 13, 2026, about 1308 eastern daylight time, a Beechcraft 58 multi-engine airplane, N2063G, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near New Market, Tennessee. The flight instructor and the commercial pilot were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. 

The commercial pilot, and airplane owner, was receiving an instrument competency check from the flight instructor when the accident occurred. 

A preliminary review of ADS-B data revealed that the airplane departed runway 26 at Knoxville Downtown Island Airport (DKX), Knoxville, TN, about 1241. It then proceeded northeast before turning to the southeast toward the BOTRE intermediate fix associated with the RNAV GPS RWY 10 instrument approach procedure to the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (GKT) Sevierville, Tennessee. Upon arrival at the BOTRE fix, it made a left turn toward GKT consistent with the approach procedure. The airplane then made a low approach over the runway before it turned north and executed the published missed approach procedure, which included a hold. The airplane completed one circuit of the holding pattern before turning northwest toward New Market, Tennessee. A review of the last minute of the data revealed the airplane made a right turn toward the northeast as its groundspeed decreased to 17 knots, it then entered a steep descent toward the ground. The last data return was 1308:43 and coincided with the accident site. 

A witness sitting in the breezeway of his home observed the airplane in a left bank with a nose down attitude before it impacted the ground. He did not recall hearing any engine noise or observing smoke or fire trailing from the airplane.

Another witness was in her yard about 1.75 miles north-northeast of the accident site. She lived near an airport and was familiar with aircraft sounds, reported hearing the airplane fly over the river, and noted that it did not sound normal. Although she did not see the airplane; she stated that it sounded as if it were in a spiral. She further reported that the engine sound changed drastically, alternating between what sounded like full power and idle at 1 second intervals. This occurred several times immediately before she heard the airplane impact the ground. 

The airplane impacted a clearing on a shallow hill in a nose-down attitude. Both engines were buried about 4 ft in the ground. The airplane sustained extensive impact damage, was heavily fragmented, and primarily consumed by post-impact fire. All of the airplane’s major components were located at the accident site. 

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Hiller UH-12E, N22SP, accident occurred on April 30, 2026, near Chikasha, Oklahoma

  • Location: Chickasha, OK 
  • Accident Number: CEN26LA175 
  • Date & Time: April 30, 2026, 17:30 Local 
  • Registration: N22SP 
  • Aircraft: Hiller UH-12E 
  • Injuries: 1 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202933/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N22SP

On April 30, 2026, about 1730 central daylight time, a Hiller UH-12E, N22SP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chickasha, Oklahoma. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. 

The pilot reported that he had completed two aerial application flights earlier that day and performed preflight inspections before both. About 1700, he began spraying a field and during the flight, the main rotor “developed a vertical hop,” and he observed one of the control rotor blades separate from the helicopter. The helicopter violently shook, and he conducted a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the main rotor blades struck the tail boom, which severed the tail boom near the tail rotor. 

The responding FAA inspector and the pilot located the separated control rotor blade in the field about 100 yards from the accident site. 

A review of the FAA airworthiness directives (AD) indicated that AD 97-10-16 was applicable to the Hiller UH-12 helicopter. The AD required (in part) that the control rotor blade spar tube (or cuff) be inspected for corrosion or cracks, or elongation, corrosion, burrs, pitting or fretting of the bolt holes…during the annual inspection, not to exceed 100 hours and every 100-hours thereafter. The actions specified by the AD are intended to prevent separation of the control rotor blade assembly and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. 

According to the helicopter maintenance records, an annual inspection was completed on February 20, 2026. During the inspection, the control rotor cuffs and trunnions were overhauled and reinstalled in accordance with the Hiller overhaul manual. The records show that AD 97- 10-16 was complied with at this time. 

The separated control rotor was retained for further examination.

Monday, May 11, 2026

Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT): Cessna 150F, N8047F, accident occurred on September 17, 2025, in Rigby, Idaho

  • Location: Rigby, Idaho 
  • Accident Number: WPR25LA283 
  • Date & Time: September 17, 2025, 11:30 Local 
  • Registration: N8047F 
  • Aircraft: Cessna 150F 
  • Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
  • Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
  • Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201035/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201035

According to the flight instructor, the airplane struggled to maintain altitude during its initial climb following takeoff. A witness reported that the wing flaps were fully deployed during takeoff. Subsequently, the airplane clipped several trees and then its left landing gear struck a power line that resulted in a descent and impact with a building. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.

The flight instructor stated that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident review of the accident site photographs revealed that the airplane's flaps were extended rather than fully retracted as specified in the airplane's Pilot Operating Handbook.

- Probable Cause: The flight instructor's improper flap position during takeoff, which resulted in degraded climb performance and a subsequent impact with a building.

Loss of control in flight: Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, N505TZ, accident occurred on December 19, 2025, at Bell South Airfield (XS04), Fort Worth, Texas

  • Location: Fort Worth, Texas 
  • Accident Number: CEN26LA065 
  • Date & Time: December 19, 2025, 08:25 Local 
  • Registration: N505TZ 
  • Aircraft: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 505 
  • Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
  • Defining Event: Loss of control in flight 
  • Injuries: 2 Minor 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202186/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202186

The company's chief flight instructor reported that during a hydraulic system training maneuver, the pilot receiving instruction established too high of a sink rate, and the helicopter bounced upon touchdown. The helicopter then yawed to the right and bounced a second time before starting a slide towards the edge of the runway. The pilot receiving instruction attempted to correct by pushing the collective full down, however, the flight instructor realized that the helicopter would not come to a stop before exiting the runway and attempted to lift the helicopter back into the air. Before the helicopter could lift off, the left skid contacted the grass, the helicopter rolled to the left, and the main rotor contacted the ground. The helicopter then rolled to the right and came to rest on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, tail rotor system, and tail boom. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The chief flight instructor reported the accident could have been prevented if the flight instructor would have recognized the excessive rate of descent and made the necessary control inputs.

- Probable Cause: The flight instructor's inadequate supervision during the approach and delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of control.

Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT): American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon, N59SE, accident occurred on January 29, 2026, near Alpine, Wyoming

  • Location: Alpine, Wyoming 
  • Accident Number: WPR26LA095 
  • Date & Time: January 29, 2026, 14:30 Local 
  • Registration: N59SE 
  • Aircraft: American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB 
  • Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
  • Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) 
  • Injuries: 1 Minor 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202381/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202381

At the conclusion of an uneventful flight, the pilot returned to the departure airport and entered the airport traffic pattern. The pilot stated that after he turned onto the base leg for the runway, he unknowingly lost depth perception and flew into the snow-covered terrain due to the “flat light” conditions. During the accident sequence, the airplane nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the rudder, vertical stabilizer, and both wings. 

The pilot added that the terrain surrounding his base leg of the traffic pattern was a dry lakebed covered in snow, the sky was overcast, and there were no shadows. He further stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

- Probable Cause: The pilot’s inadvertent descent while operating in flat light conditions which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

Nose over/nose down: American Champion 8GCBC Denali Scout, N636DB, accident occurred on March 1, 2026, at Sky Ranch at Carefree (18AZ), Carefree, Arizona

  • Location: Carefree, Arizona 
  • Accident Number: WPR26LA114 
  • Date & Time: March 1, 2026, 19:20 Local 
  • Registration: N636DB 
  • Aircraft: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC 
  • Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
  • Defining Event: Nose over/nose down 
  • Injuries: 1 Minor 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202583/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202583

The pilot reported that he landed the tailwheel equipped airplane at a backcountry airstrip, and while taxiing on rough terrain, the tailwheel spring failed and the tailwheel assembly separated from the airplane. The pilot shut down the airplane and exited to inspect and retrieve the tailwheel assembly. He then decided to depart, using engine power to lift the tail off the ground for the take-off roll, and return to his home airport where he planned to land and hold the airplane’s tail off the ground as long as possible. The pilot completed a successful wheel landing, but as the airplane slowed during the landing roll it tipped forward and nosed over, coming to rest inverted on the dirt runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage frame, wings, vertical stabilizer, ailerons, elevators, rudder, and wing lift struts. The pilot reported that he may have inadvertently applied more main-wheel braking pressure than necessary while trying to keep the tail off the ground, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. Other than the previously damaged tailwheel assembly, the pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

- Probable Cause: The pilot’s decision to operate the airplane with a known mechanical defect, and the improper application of the main wheel brakes, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.

Loss of control on ground: Beechcraft 95-A55 Baron, N500CA, accident occurred on November 9, 2025, at Moore County Airport (SOP/KSOP), Southern Pines, North Carolina

  • Location: Southern Pines, North Carolina 
  • Accident Number: ERA26LA037 
  • Date & Time: November 9, 2025, 05:10 Local 
  • Registration: N500CA 
  • Aircraft: Beech 95-A55 
  • Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
  • Defining Event: Loss of control on ground 
  • Injuries: 1 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201976/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201976

The pilot reported that he was departing in a multi-engine airplane at night. During the takeoff roll, a small animal darted towards the runway. Distracted, he released a small amount of rudder pressure but elected to continue the takeoff. The airplane subsequently collided with a runway edge light, which resulted in substantial damage to the left aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

- Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff at night, while distracted by an animal approaching the runway, which resulted in collision with a runway light.