Piper PA-22-150 Tri-Pacer, N3170Z, fatal accident occurred on February 28, 2026, near Oroville, California

• Location: Oroville, CA 
• Accident Number: WPR26FA109 
• Date & Time: February 28, 2026, 09:48 Local 
• Registration: N3170Z 
• Aircraft: Piper PA-22-150 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202565/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N3170Z

On February 28, 2026, about 0948 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-22-150, N3170Z, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Oroville, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to a friend of the pilot and the owner of the accident airplane, the purpose of the flight was to fly from Richvale Airport (07CL), Richvale, California, to Paradise Airport Skypark (CA92), Paradise, California, to initiate the airplane’s annual inspection. The morning of the accident, the pilot flew his personal airplane from CA92 to 07CL, secured his airplane, and subsequently departed 07CL in the accident airplane and was enroute to CA92, which was about 12 nautical miles (nm) northwest.

A witness that spoke to the pilot via radio on the destination airports common traffic advisory frequency. About 0947, he heard the pilot issue a position report that informed CA92 airport traffic, that he was about 2.5 nm to the southwest and entering the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern to land on runway 35. Another witness reported that about 0947, they heard a noise resembling an airplane’s engine just above their home, followed by the sound of a loud collision, coupled with the simultaneous jolt and shaking of their home shortly after. After walking outside and seeing the downed airplane, they called 911. First responder dispatch records indicated about 0948, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the accident site.

The accident site was located about 3.06 nm southwest of CA92. All major components of the airplane remained attached to or were collocated with the fuselage. The first identifiable point of impact (FIPI) was a single tree located about 12 ft west of the wreckage. The nearly 30 ft tall tree had missing branches near the top of the tree, that were found within the wreckage. The airplane impacted sloping terrain in a near vertical pitch attitude with the right wing upslope, the left wing downslope, and the empennage was folded over the aft fuselage and the inboard section of the right wing. Both wings exhibited chordwise crushing throughout the structure and their respective aileron and flap were present at the site.

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

Van's RV-8, N80AR, fatal accident occurred on February 28, 2026, near St. George, Utah

• Location: Hurricane, UT 
• Accident Number: WPR26FA108 
• Date & Time: February 28, 2026, 10:05 Local 
• Registration: N80AR 
• Aircraft: Vans Aircraft RV-8 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal 

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202564/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N80AR

On February 28, 2026, at about 1005 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur-built, Vans Aircraft, RV-8, N80AR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hurricane, Utah. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Pilot rated witnesses reported that the pilot was participating in a formation flying event, which was staged out of Saint George Regional Airport (SGU), Saint George, Utah. During the accident flight, the accident airplane was number two position of a flight of five. The pilot rated witnesses stated that they were flying about 500 ft above ground level (agl), at an airspeed of about 130 mph in an extended trail formation with about 800-1,000 ft of spacing between the airplanes.

The pilots who were in trail of the accident airplane reported that they observed the airplane pitch upward and roll to the left. The witnesses stated that the pilot appeared to attempt to recover from the roll, and that the airplane was in a wings level attitude before it impacted terrain.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted gradual up sloping desert terrain on a heading of 200° magnetic, at an elevation of 4,538 ft mean sea level. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a ground scar, about 30 ft in length and 15 ft wide, which contained propeller blades, engine cowling, and fragments of the rudder. The debris path was about 247 ft in length, and about 70 ft wide, oriented on a heading of about 200° magnetic from the FIPC to the main wreckage.

The second ground disturbance, about 6 ft by 4 ft in diameter, was about 176 ft from the FIPC and contained various non-secured items from inside the airplane. A third ground disturbance, which consisted of an area of displaced dirt, was observed about 199 ft from the FIPC and extended to the main wreckage. 

The fuselage came to rest inverted on a heading of about 175° magnetic. The instrument panel, engine, and engine mount, were located in an upright position. All major structural components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

Cessna 172M Skyhawk, N61761, accident occurred on March 9, 2026, at Solon Springs Municipal Airport (OLG/KOLG), Solon Springs, Wisconsin

• Location: Solon Springs, WI 
• Accident Number: CEN26LA138 
• Date & Time: March 9, 2026, 13:45 Local 
• Registration: N61761 
• Aircraft: Cessna 172M 
• Injuries: 1 None 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202629/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N61761

 On March 9, 2026, at about 1345 local time, a Cessna 172M Skyhawk, N61761, registered to Hawk Aviation Inc, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident at Solon Springs Municipal Airport (OLG/KOLG), Solon Springs, Wisconsin. The sole pilot onboard was not injured. The cross-country flight originated from Rush City Regional Airport (KROS), Rush City, Minnesota, at 1308 LT, and was destined to KOLG.

The FAA reported; "Aircraft on landing, veered off runway and struck a snowbank and flipped over." The winds were from 230° at 6 knots.

(Note: self-written text and not NTSB's, NTSB is investigating conducting a Class 4 investigation into this event. A preliminary report will not be issued but a final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.)