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=N80AR
- History of Flight:
On February 28, 2026, at about 0944 local time, a privately-registered Van's RV-8, N80AR, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near St. George, Utah. The sole pilot onboard sustained fatal injuries. The local formation flight originated from the Saint George Regional Airport (SGU/KSGU), Saint George, Utah, at 0941 LT.
The formation included four other aircraft. It is unknown if this formation was headed for a specific location at this point.
ADS-B data show that the airplane departed runway 19 at KSGU and entered a climbing left turn to an altitude of 4,000 ft. The last ADS-B data point was recorded at 0944:04, the airplane was at 4,100 ft, 130 knots groundspeed, with a reported vertical rate of 128 feet per minute. The time of the last ADS-B point matches the time given in the FAA report.
On March 2, the FAA reported: "Aircraft rolled inverted during detachment from a formation flight of 5 and impacted the ground."
The airplane came to rest inverted in open desert ground and was not consumed by a post crash fire. The nose/engine was impact damaged and separated from the airframe. Both wings and tail remained attached to the fuselage.
The pilot's name was not released and is still unknown.
Weather conditions at the time were unremarkable.
- Weather:
METAR KSGU 281556Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 12/03 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP182 T01170028
METAR KSGU 281656Z AUTO 03004KT 10SM CLR 13/03 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP182 T01280028
