NTSB Preliminary: Comp Air CA6-WB, N82BT, fatal accident occurred on June 20, 2026, near Nicholasville, Kentucky

• Location: Nicholasville, KY 
• Accident Number: WPR26FA223 
• Date & Time: June 20, 2026, 08:46 Local 
• Registration: N82BT 
• Aircraft: Comp Air CA6-WB 
• Injuries: 2 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203202/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N82BT

On June 20, 2026, about 0846 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Comp Air CA6-WB, N82BT, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Nicholasville, Kentucky. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. 

Recorded ADS-B data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed that the airplane departed from Lexington, Kentucky (LEX), runway 27 at about 0840:00, made a climbing left turn toward the southeast and ascended to an altitude of about 4,500 ft mean sea level (msl). At 0844:57, the data showed that the airplane began a descent, and its groundspeed steadily increased, until ADS-B contact was lost, about 1 nautical mile north of the accident location at 0845:23. 

Review of radio communications between the pilot, Lexington Tower and Terminal Radar Approach Control revealed that about 1 minute after departure, the pilot established radio communications with Terminal Radar Approach Control and requested flight-following services. At 0845:23, the controller stated radar contact was lost, and despite multiple attempts, no response from the pilot was received.

A flight log recovered from the accident site identified Gwinnett County Airport–Briscoe Field (LZU), Lawrenceville, Georgia, as the intended destination for the flight segment, with subsequent waypoints continuing to Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport (FHB), Fernandina Beach, Florida.

According to witness video and audio captured by a doorbell camera near the accident site, the airplane was observed flying at a low altitude while emitting a grinding noise, followed by a popping sound. Witnesses reported that the fuselage then descended inverted after separating from both wings. The airplane continued in an inverted, near-vertical descent until the airplane went out of visual range. Several witnesses described the airplane as “spinning” about its lateral axis in the vertical descent.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted level pasture terrain at a horse farm approximately 8 nautical miles south of LEX at an elevation of about 890 ft mean sea level. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was the engine, which was found inverted, partially embedded within terrain, and partially separated from the fuselage. The fuselage came to rest on its left side approximately 2 ft east of the engine.

The debris path extended approximately 1,700 ft, on a heading of about 090° magnetic from the main wreckage. Throughout the wreckage debris path, various components of the airplane, including portions of the flight control surfaces and propeller fragments were observed. 

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