Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga SP, N318JM, accident occurred on September 18, 2025, near University-Oxford Airport (UOX/KUOX), Oxford, Mississippi

• Location: Oxford, Mississippi 
• Accident Number: CEN25LA387 
• Date & Time: September 18, 2025, 13:15 Local 
• Registration: N318JM 
• Aircraft: Piper PA-32R-301 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Aerodynamic stall/spin 
• Injuries: 2 Serious 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201047/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201047

On September 18, 2025, about 1320 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301 airplane, N318JM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Oxford, Mississippi. The pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot conducted a normal pre-flight inspection and engine run-up. According to the pilot, after taking off from the runway, the airplane started drifting to the right and did not gain as much altitude as expected. The pilot attempted to correct the drift, but the airplane impacted the ground and slid into trees resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, stabilator, and both wings. The pilot stated that he likely stalled the airplane.

Airport surveillance video depicted the airplane during the takeoff. The airplane’s pitch attitude increased as it rotated and climbed from the runway to about 100 ft above ground level. The airplane appeared to have maintained a nose-high attitude as it descended into terrain.

- Probable Cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial takeoff climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

Part(s) separation from AC: Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, N261FC, accident occurred on March 27, 2025, in Royal Kunia, Hawaii

• Location: Royal Kunia, Hawaii 
• Accident Number: ANC25LA028
• Date & Time: March 27, 2025, 12:00 Local 
• Registration: N261FC 
• Aircraft: Piper PA-28-140 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Part(s) separation from AC 
• Injuries: 2 Minor 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199932/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199932

On March 27, 2025, about 1200 Hawaii-Aleutian Standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N261FC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Royal Kunia, Hawaii. The flight instructor and student pilot reported minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. 

During an instructional flight, the flight instructor detected a vibration; shortly thereafter he heard a loud bang, the engine lost total power, and the nose dropped. He performed a forced landing to a heavily vegetated field.

After landing, the flight instructor noticed that the propeller was missing. It was later found in a nearby residence; no one was injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage.

Examination of the separated propeller revealed that the engine crankshaft had fractured and separated just aft of the crankshaft propeller flange (CPF). This flange is an integral part of the crankshaft and is where the propeller attaches to the engine; however, the CPF was found attached to the separated propeller and not the crankshaft where it belonged. The CPF was removed from the propeller and examined by an NTSB metallurgist to determine why the crankshaft had fractured and separated. The examination revealed that the CPF had been improperly modified by the drilling and installation of additional bolts. Investigators were unable to determine the purpose for the modification, when it was made, or by whom.

Available maintenance records did not include any entries noting that the propeller assembly had been removed or altered since initial installation. Additionally, there are no Lycoming maintenance instructions, repair instructions, or service bulletins that permit hole drilling and filling of the CPF.

- Probable Cause: Improper alteration of the crankshaft propeller flange at an unknown time, which resulted in an in-flight separation of the propeller assembly.

MD Helicopters MD530F (369FF), N3502P, fatal accident occurred on January 2, 2026, near Superior, Arizona

• Location: Superior, AZ 
• Accident Number: WPR26FA074 
• Date & Time: January 2, 2026, 11:00 Local 
• Registration: N3502P 
• Aircraft: MD HELICOPTERS LLC 369FF 
• Injuries: 4 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal 

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202237/pdf

http://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N3502P

On January 2, 2026, at about 1100 mountain standard time, an MD Helicopters MD369FF helicopter, N3502P, was substantially damaged when it impacted a highline/slackline near Superior, Arizona. The pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Slacklining is a sport where a participant balances on a 1 to 3 inch wide piece of webbing made from synthetic fiber that is suspended between two fixed points. A subset of the sport, called highlining, entails rigging the slackline at higher altitudes above terrain, and often involves longer slacklines. Typically, a highline/slackline consists of a mainline that the participant balances on, and a backup line that the participant connects their safety harness to. The mainline is tensioned between two anchors, and the backup line is loosely attached to the mainline with intermittent connectors.

According to a witness, on or around December 26, 2025, he and a group of friends traveled to the area near the accident site, which consisted of a valley with terrain elevations that ranged between 2,600-3,500 ft mean sea level (msl). Using two anchors spaced on bluffs about 0.74 mile apart, they raised a signalization line that carried five windsocks and about ten LED lights. After the signalization line was raised, they used additional nylon lines to draw the mainline and backup lines between the anchors. (See Figure 1.) The lines were oriented in a generally north/south direction and were estimated to be about 600 ft above the ground at their highest point.

On or about December 30, 2025, high winds and rain were predicted near the accident site, and the slackliners chose to lower the mainline and backup line. On the morning of the accident, the weather had improved, and the slackliners began to draw the mainline and backup line from the northern anchor toward the southern anchor.

According to one of the slackliners, who was standing near the southern anchor point, the mainline and backup line had been drawn partway between the anchors when he heard the helicopter approach. The witness turned to the south and saw the helicopter flying at about eye level in an easterly direction. The helicopter briefly disappeared behind nearby  terrain, and when it reappeared in the witness’s line of sight, it was flying toward the set of lines suspended between the anchors.

The witness reported that the helicopter impacted the lines and appeared to slow or even reverse direction. The helicopter pitched nose up and yawed to the right, after which its tailboom separated. The fuselage became inverted, and the tailboom and fuselage subsequently impacted terrain about 150 and 350 ft from the lines. (See Figure 2.)

According to first responders, about an hour after the accident, a second helicopter flying a similar flight path flew about 10 ft under the signalization line, which had remained suspended after the accident along with portions of the highline/slackline webbing.

Examination of the helicopter revealed material consistent in appearance to highline/slackline webbing imbedded in the upper part of the vertical stabilizer. (See Figure 3.) The lower ends of the horizontal stabilizer end caps were sheared off, and striations similar to the webbing weave pattern were visible on the paint on the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. Additional striations were found on two of the main rotor blades. The helicopter was equipped with a wire strike protection system that consisted of cutters on the top and bottom of the forward fuselage. The cutting surfaces did not show any striations or disturbed paint.

On December 21, 2025, a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was filed by a friend of the slackliners that showed the presence of a “tight rope” about 3 nautical miles south of Superior Municipal Airport (E81), Superior, Arizona. The NOTAM was active between December 26, 2025, and January 6, 2026.

The wreckage and sections of the highline/slackline were retained for further examination.

Cessna 320D Executive Skyknight, N3325Q, incident occurred on January 19, 2026, at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG/KFLG), Flagstaff, Arizona

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=N3325Q

- History of Flight:
On January 19, 2026, at about 1745 local time, a Cessna 320D Executive Skyknight, N3325Q, registered to Winrick LLC, sustained unknown damage when it was involved in an incident at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG/KFLG), Flagstaff, Arizona. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The local flight originated from KFLG at 1651 LT.

The FAA reported: "Aircraft nose gear collapsed on landing." At 1657, the winds were from 070° at 9 knots. At 1757 LT, the winds were from 060° at 9 knots, gusting 16 knots.

- Weather:

METAR KFLG 192357Z 07009KT 10SM CLR 08/M11 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP194 T00781106 10106 20078 53004 $

METAR KFLG 200057Z 06009G16KT 10SM CLR 05/M11 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP201 T00501111 $

Globe GC-1B, N121HP, and Cirrus SR22 G3 Turbo, N542PG, incident occurred on January 20, 2026, at Zamperini Field (TOA/KTOA), Torrance, California

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=N121HP

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N542PG

- History of Flight:
On January 20, 2026, at about 1644 local time, a Globe GC-1B, N121HP, registered to PK Flyer LLC, and Cirrus SR22 G3 Turbo, N542PG, registered to Mountain Airplane LLC, both sustained unknown damage following a ground collision at Zamperini Field (TOA/KTOA), Torrance, California. The pilot and passenger onboard the Globe were not injured. The Globe originated from Rosamond Skypark Airport (L00), Rosamond, California, at 1807 LT.

The FAA reported: "Aircraft landed and while taxiing to refuel, clipped N542PG which was parked." ADS-B data show that the airplane landed on runway 29L and taxied to the ramp.

- Weather:

METAR KHHR 210153Z 30005KT 9SM CLR 15/13 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP176 T01500128 $

METAR KHHR 210253Z 00000KT 7SM CLR 15/13 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP175 T01500128 58001 $

Figure 1: ADS-B exchange end of track (Globe)

Kitfox Series 7 Super Sport, N775DZ, incident occurred on January 19, 2026, in Reno, Nevada

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=N775DZ

- History of Flight:
On January 19, 2026, at about 1000 local time, a Kitfox Series 7 Super Sport, N775DZ, sustained unknown damage when it was involved in an incident in Reno, Nevada. The pilot sustained minor injuries.

The FAA reported: "Aircraft on landing, pilot wanted to avoid a bump so attempted a go-around and left wingtip hit the ground and spun around."

- Weather:

METAR KRTS 191755Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 02/M03 A3036 RMK AO2

METAR KRTS 191815Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 02/M03 A3036 RMK AO2

Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, N7430W, incident occurred on January 19, 2026, at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD/KPGD), Punta Gorda, Florida

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=N7430W

- History of Flight:
On January 19, 2026, at about 0906 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, N7430W, registered to I Was Inverted LLC, sustained unknown damage following a runway excursion on runway 4 at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD/KPGD), Punta Gorda, Florida. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The local flight originated from KPGD at 0845 LT.

The FAA reported: "Aircraft encountered a gust of wind on landing, incurred a prop strike and veered off runway." Winds at the time were from 040° at 10 knots.

- Weather:

METAR KPGD 191353Z 03009KT 10SM CLR 06/M01 A3030 RMK AO2 SLP260 T00561011

METAR KPGD 191412Z 04010KT 10SM CLR 07/M01 A3030 RMK AO2 T00671011

METAR KPGD 191453Z 04012KT 10SM CLR 08/M03 A3031 RMK AO2 SLP263 T00781028 51012

Beechcraft G33 Bonanza, N9337Q, incident occurred on January 19, 2026, at Brackett Field Airport (POC/KPOC), La Verne, California

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=N9337Q

- History of Flight:
On January 19, 2026, at about 1151 local time, a Beechcraft G33 Bonanza, N9337Q, sustained minor damage when it suffered a nose gear collapse on runway 26R at Brackett Field Airport (POC/KPOC), La Verne, California. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Van Nuys Airport (VNY/KVNY), Van Nuys, California, at 1133, and was destined to KPOC.