N80ARVans Aircraft RV-8 · 2016

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.