- Location: Mineral Point, WI
- Accident Number: CEN26LA258
- Date & Time: July 17, 2026, 12:48 Local
- Registration: N22SZ
- Aircraft: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-8A
- Injuries: 1 None
- Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203415/pdf
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N22SZ
On July 17, 2026, at 1748 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans Aircraft Inc
RV-8A, N22SZ, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident in Mineral
Point, Wisconsin. The commercial pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title
14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot stated that while en route to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, he stopped at Iowa County Airport,
Mineral Point (MRJ), Wisconsin, for fuel and to wait for visual flight conditions to improve at
the destination airport. He then departed MRJ, and after climbing to 9,000 ft mean sea level, he
switched fuel tanks and a “moment or so” later, the engine lost power. He then initiated a
return to MRJ, during which he attempted several engine restarts. The engine restarted during
the descent to MRJ, then lost power, restarted again, and continued to operate for the
remainder flight to and taxi at MRJ. After the flight, the pilot stated that he talked to six or eight
pilots at MRJ, two of which were mechanics, and a mechanic based at MRJ, about the loss of
engine power that he had experienced. The group discussed mechanical and electrical fuel
pump failures, carburetor icing, vapor lock, and test flying the airplane.
On the following day, the pilot attempted a test flight of the airplane from MRJ. The pilot stated
that the engine start for the test flight was “very clean normal start,” there were no hot start or
fuel vapor problems, and the engine run-up was normal. He said that shortly after takeoff and
early in the climb, the airplane engine began to run rough, and he decided to end the test flight
and return to the airport. While turning left and climbing into the airport traffic pattern, the
engine lost power. The pilot then decided to turn and land the airplane in the opposite direction
since there was no engine power to fly an airport traffic pattern. During the turn, the engine
started again but later lost power, and the airplane was high and fast. The pilot performed a
forced landing on runway 11 where it impacted the runway surface. The airplane sustained
substantial to both wings, the engine firewall, and an engine mount.
The airplane was retained for further examination.
