Howard DGA-15P, N67722, accident occurred on July 22, 2025, at Republic Airport (FRG/KFRG), Farmingdale, New York

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N67722

Photo: Cedar News

On July 22, 2025, at about 0929 local time, a privately-registered 1942 Howard DGA-15P, N67722, sustained substantial damage following an apparent ground loop on runway 14 at Republic Airport (FRG/KFRG), Farmingdale, New York. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Katama Airpark (1B2), Edgartown, Massachusetts, at 0821 LT.

- Weather:

METAR KFRG 221253Z 04008KT 10SM SCT046 SCT060 22/13 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP204 T02170128

METAR KFRG 221353Z VRB05KT 10SM FEW041 23/13 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP205 T02330133

Piper PA-46-500TP Malibu Meridian, N444RR, fatal accident occurred on July 15, 2023, at Martha's Vineyard Airport (MVY/KMVY), Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts

• Location: Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts 
• Accident Number: ERA23LA300 
• Date & Time: July 15, 2023, 15:15 Local 
• Registration: N444RR 
• Aircraft: Piper PA46 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Medical event 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Minor 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192636/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192636

On July 15, 2023, at 1515 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA46-500TP airplane, N444RR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. The pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight was operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the passenger, the 79-year-old pilot was performing a go-around when he experienced a medical emergency and “blacked out.” The passenger took control of the airplane and made an emergency gear-up landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. First responders found that the pilot was in cardiac arrest upon extricating him from the airplane.

A review of the pilot’s medical history revealed his incapacitation was most likely due to a sudden in-flight cardiac event that led to the cardiac arrest. The event was likely related to the pilot’s significant underlying heart disease, which included coronary artery disease and damage from a previous heart attack.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the pilot a series of Authorizations for Special Issuance of third-class medical certification based on annual medical testing and favorable status reports from the pilot's primary care and cardiology physicians. However, records from the pilot’s most recent aviation medical examination did not include any indication that the pilot reported his history of coronary artery disease, heart attack, or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) to the Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). There also was no indication that the pilot presented his previously issued Authorization of Special Issuance letter to the AME, as required, and his most recent batch of medical reports submitted to the FAA provided no obvious indication that his incapacitation risk was substantially higher than the FAA had previously found acceptable when it issued his third-class medical certification by Special Issuance.

The pilot reported using several medications. However, whether effects from the pilot’s medication contributed to his incapacitation could not be determined.

- Probable Cause: The pilot’s incapacitation due to a sudden in-flight cardiac event, which resulted in a gear-up landing.

Part(s) separation from AC: Golden Circle T-Bird II, UNREG, fatal accident occurred on September 22, 2023 at Arlington Municipal Airport (AWO/KAWO), Arlington, Washington

• Location: Arlington, Washington 
• Accident Number: WPR23FA351 
• Date & Time: September 22, 2023, 14:46 Local 
• Registration: UNREG 
• Aircraft: Golden Circle T Bird 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Part(s) separation from AC
• Injuries: 1 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193119/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193119

On September 22, 2023, about 1446 Pacific daylight time, an unregistered experimental, amateur-built Golden Circle T-Bird II was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Arlington, Washington. The noncertificated pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The noncertificated pilot was performing taxi tests in his unregistered experimental amateurbuilt airplane. A witness reported that the airplane departed the runway and flew erratically as it briefly flew away from the airport and then reappeared over a tree line. The video of the accident sequence showed that, as the airplane flew over the airport, it made several uncoordinated turns, rapid pitch changes and erratically yawed right to left multiple times. In the airplane’s final seconds of flight, it began a steep right bank during which the left wing separated and the airplane fell to the ground.

Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the forward left wing spar failed in overload due to an improper repair that included splicing the spar and rejoining it with a sleeve. The spar failed in flight, which resulted in a failure of the left wing, a subsequent loss of control and rapid descent. The examination did not reveal any other preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Toxicology testing detected the presence of ethanol in one tested liver specimen, and the pilot’s use of methamphetamine, cannabis, and amitriptyline. The ethanol was not detected in two other tested specimens (including another liver tissue specimen), which indicates that it was likely from sources other than alcohol consumption. The measured levels of methamphetamine were high enough to indicate a general likelihood that the pilot was experiencing associated impairing effects at the time of the crash. However, the precise nature and severity of his impairment cannot be determined from available evidence. Whether the pilot’s use of cannabis or amitriptyline would have resulted in impairment could not be determined. 

- Probable Cause: A failure of the forward left wing spar due to an improper repair, which resulted in an inflight separation of the left wing. Contributing to the accident was improper maintenance by splicing the wing spar.

Evolution Revolt, N774RS, fatal accident occurred on July 2, 2025, near Mount Vernon, Washington

• Location: Mount Vernon, WA 
• Accident Number: WPR25FA197 
• Date & Time: July 2, 2025, 13:13 Local
• Registration: N774RS 
• Aircraft: EVOLUTION AIRCRAFT INC REVOLT 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200452/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N774RS

On July 2, 2025, about 1313 Pacific daylight time, an Evolution Aircraft REVOLT weight shift control aircraft (commonly called a trike), N774RS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mount Vernon, Washington. The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to a family member, the pilot brought the aircraft to the family member’s grass landing strip to take photographs of it before placing it for sale. The landing strip was in a north/south configuration, and was about 600 ft long, 50 ft wide, and bordered by tall trees.

On the day of the accident, the pilot told the family member that he was concerned about the winds, which were variable and gusting. The pilot proceeded to board the aircraft and taxi it around the north end of the landing strip several times before initiating a takeoff southbound.

According to a video recorded by the family member, the aircraft climbed to about 30 ft above ground level before it began to bank left and fly toward the trees along the eastern side of the runway. (See Figure 1).

As the aircraft neared the tree line, it rapidly entered a steep right bank. The aircraft contacted the upper branches of a fir tree and subsequently descended into terrain.

Examination of the wreckage site revealed the aircraft came to rest on its right side near the south end of the airstrip. (See Figure 2). The wing remained attached to the fuselage. The wing’s keel tube was deformed, and the leading edge structural tubes were fractured in multiple locations. The control bar was crushed upward and to the right. Fuel, consistent in color and appearance to automotive gasoline, was seen within the fuel tank. All five composite propeller blades had separated from the hub near the roots. 

The aircraft’s Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) was retained for data readout.

Piper PA-24-260 Comanche, N9285P, Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, N269Y, and Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, N5356L, incident occurred on July 21, 2025, at Oshkosh-Wittman Field (OSH/KOSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N904KJ

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N269Y

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N5356L

On July 21, 2025, at about 2104 local time, a privately-registered Piper PA-24-260 Comanche, N904KJ, sustained unknown damage when was involved in an incident at Oshkosh-Wittman Field (OSH/KOSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from the New Holstein Municipal Airport (8D1), New Holstein, Wisconsin, at about 1836 LT.

The FAA reported the Comanche, N9285P, struck the rudder of the Twin Comanche (N269Y) and the spinner of the PA-28-180 Cherokee (N5356L) while attempting to taxi between both of them. There were no injuries.

Figure 1: ADS-B Exchange of approach, landing, and taxi (Google Earth).

- Weather:

METAR KOSH 220053Z 13005KT 10SM FEW120 21/11 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP168 T02110106

METAR KOSH 220153Z AUTO 11003KT 10SM SCT120 19/12 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP170 T01940122

Vans RV-9A, N904KJ, incident occurred on July 21, 2025, at Oshkosh-Wittman Field (OSH/KOSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N904KJ

On July 21, 2025, at about 0900 local time, a privately-registered Vans RV-9A, N904KJ, sustained minor damage when was involved in an incident at Oshkosh-Wittman Field (OSH/KOSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from the East Troy Municipal Airport (57C), East Troy, Wisconsin, at about 0749 LT.

The FAA reported that the airplane landed on runway 9 and was instructed to exit onto the grass and struck a runway light.

Figure 1: ADS-B Exchange of landing

- Weather:

METAR KOSH 211353Z 09009KT 10SM CLR 19/14 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP195 T01890139

METAR KOSH 211453Z 12007KT 10SM CLR 20/14 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP189 T02000144 58001