Kubicek BB26M, N90MN, accident occurred on January 10, 2026, in La Verkin, Utah

 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=N90MN

- History of Flight:
On January 10, 2026, at about 1000 local time, a Kubicek BB26M hot air balloon, N90MN, registered to A&L Professional Services Inc out of Minden, Nevada, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident in La Verkin, Utah. The pilot and a designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) onboard were not injured.

The FAA reported: "Aircraft maneuvering and experienced a down draft and became stuck in power lines."

During a post accident interview, the DPE onboard reported the following: 

"...said the flight was a pilot’s exam, and the pilot was doing well up until the sudden weather changes. He said the pilot had great control of the balloon, but as they were finding a spot to land, they passed over a cavern, which created a down draft."

“Once it appeared that we were probably going to contact the wires, the applicant did a good job. He pulled the top, which means we weren’t going to try to go up anymore. We’re just going to hit the wires at an envelope lever, which would mean the basket would be safe, and that’s what we did, and we hit it, and we actually slid down to the ground.”

Despite making contact with the ground, the DPE stated that the protocol dictated that the passengers remain in the basket until the power company confirmed that the power had been cut from the wires.

"... said they would attempt another flight for the pilot on Sunday for certification purposes."

Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee D, N6516J, accident occurred on January 10, 2026, near Okeechobee, 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=N6516J

- History of Flight:
On January 10, 2026, at about 1927 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee D, N6516J, registered to Telesurv Corp, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Okeechobee, Florida. One of the two occupants onboard sustained serious injuries, and another sustained minor injuries. The personal flight originated from the Okeechobee County Airport (OBE/KOBE), Okeechobee, Florida, at 1916 LT, and was destined to an unknown location.

According to preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed runway 5 at KOBE and entered a climbing right hand turn to an altitude of 2,300 ft. At 1923 LT, the airplane started a descent from that altitude and entered a 180 right turn. The airplane continued to descent until the end of the track (see figure).

The FAA reported: "Aircraft crashed for unknown reasons in a wooded area."

Figure 1: ADS-B Track

Figure 2: End of track.

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, N669CW, accident occurred on January 11, 2026, at Merrill Field (MRI/PAMR), Anchorage, Alaska

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=N669CW

- History of Flight:
On January 11, 2026, at about 1602 local time, a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, N669CW, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident at Merrill Field (MRI/PAMR), Anchorage, Alaska. The sole pilot onboard was not injured. The airplane was registered to Precision Air Inc out of Nelson Lagoon, AK, and being operated on an on-demand Part 135 flight.

According to preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data, at 1554 LT, the airplane taxied from the east ramp and departed from runway 7L at Merrill Field (MRI/PAMR), Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane climbed to about 1,500 ft before it started a circling 360 turn followed by a 180 turn. At 1600, the airplane entered from 1,500 ft and headed north. At ~1601:50, the airplane entered a tight base-to-final turn for runway 25 at Merrill Field (MRI/PAMR), Anchorage, Alaska. The data shows that the airplane landed and veered off to the left side before coming to rest (see figures).

The NTSB is investigating the event as an accident, case number ANC26LA009.

- Weather:

METAR PAMR 120053Z 36005KT 2SM -SN BR BKN007 OVC024 M11/M13 A2923 RMK AO2 SNB43 SLP901 P0000 T11111128

METAR PAMR 120104Z 01006KT 2SM BR BKN007 OVC024 M11/M13 A2923 RMK AO2 SNE04 P0000 T11111128

METAR PANC 120053Z 01005KT 10SM OVC026 M11/M13 A2923 RMK AO2 SNE2358 SLP900 P0000 T11111128 $

METAR PANC 120153Z 03006KT 10SM OVC026 M12/M14 A2923 RMK AO2 SLP904 T11171139 $

Figure 1: ADS-B data

Figure 2: Landing at MRI

Cessna 172N Skyhawk, N5136E, incident occurred on January 7, 2026, at San Marcos Regional Airport (HYI/KHYI), Austin, Texas

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=N5136E

- History of Flight:
On January 7, 2026, at about 1400 local time, a Cessna 172N Skyhawk, N5136E, registered to Wings Over Texas Holdings LLC out of Denton, TX, sustained minor damage when it was involved in an incident at San Marcos Regional Airport (HYI/KHYI), Austin, Texas. The student pilot and flight instructor were not injured.

The FAA reported: "Aircraft conducting a simulated engine failure on climb out, landed hard and bent the nose gear."

Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, N7085P, incident occurred on January 8, 2026, in Bay City, Michigan

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=N7085P

- History of Flight:
On January 8, 2026, at about 1441 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, N7085P, registered to Flyum LLC, sustained minor damage when it was involved in an incident in Bay City, Michigan. The pilot was not injured.

The FAA reported: "Aircraft gear collapsed on landing." There is no ADS-B data available for the incident flight.

Quad City Challenger II, N194JR, accident occurred on January 6, 2026, in Greenbrier, Arkansas

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=N194JR

- History of Flight:
On January 6, 2026, at about 1700 local time, a privately-registered Quad City Challenger II, N194JR, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident in Greenbrier, Arkansas. The pilot sustained minor injuries.

The FAA reported that the airplane crashed immediately after takeoff. However, another online report suggests the airplane crashed during an attempted landing after circling the airport two times.

Raytheon Hawker 800XP, N15RK, and IAI 1125 Astra SPX, N230TG, incident occurred on January 8, 2026, at Chicago-Midway Airport (MDW/KMDW), Chicago, Illinois

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=N15RK

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N230TG

- History of Flight:
On January 8, 2026, at about 0917 local time, a Raytheon Hawker 800XP, N15RK, registered to NLN Hawker Holdings LLC, was taxiing for departure when it struck a parked IAI 1125 Astra SPX, N230TG, at Chicago-Midway Airport (MDW/KMDW), Chicago, Illinois. There were no reported injuries.

ADS-B data indicates that the Astra arrived at Chicago on January 6 and was parked at the west ramp. The Hawker was last seen taxiing towards the same ramp on January 7. The taxiing portion for January 8 was not covered on any ADS-B tracking site.