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20260410010539A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Eric Vargosko SW-51 · Iron Station, NC · April 10, 2026

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
April 10, 2026 · 17:32 local
Place
Iron Station, NC
Airport
Lincolnton-Lincoln County Regional
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N551EV
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA26LA169
Reported as
Eric Vargosko SW-51
Reported engine
ROTAX 916 IS
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
2
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
1,200 total
N551EVRegistered now · Eric Vargosko SW-51S/N 017 · Built 2024Airframe modelEric Vargosko SW-51Engine modelRotax 916 IS series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Who: 2 personnel on board, pilot in command at time of takeoff and passenger (flight instructor).

What: experimental aircraft SW-51 experienced a loss of engine power for unknown reasons shortly after takeoff from runway 23. The passenger (flight instructor) took control of the airplane and crash-landed in a nearby field.

Where: 1/2 mile southwest of ipj (Lincoln county regional airport).

When: 10 April 2026 @ 1732 EST.

Reference sas task T-EA68-FY26-1322

As the FAA filed it

WHO: 2 PERSONNEL ON BOARD, PILOT IN COMMAND AT TIME OF TAKEOFF AND PASSENGER (FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR).

WHAT: EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT SW-51 EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNKNOWN REASONS SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 23. THE PASSENGER (FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR) TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND CRASH-LANDED IN A NEARBY FIELD.

WHERE: 1/2 MILE SOUTHWEST OF IPJ (LINCOLN COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT).

WHEN: 10 APRIL 2026 @ 1732 EST.

REFERENCE SAS TASK T-EA68-FY26-1322

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA26LA169Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportIron Station, NCOn April 10, 2026, about 1732 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur built SW-51 airplane, N551EV, sustained minor damage when it was involved in an accident near Iron Station, North Carolina. The front seat pilot sustained minor injuries, and the…Apr 10, 2026 · Minor damage