# Accident 20260501009639A: North American NAVION, New Salem, MA, May 1, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 1, 2026, 16:38 local time
- Place: New Salem, MA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.5177° N, 72.2954° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5177&lon=-72.2954&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8618H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8618H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: North American NAVION (registry code 6150130, https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-navion) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental E225-4 (registry code 17162, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN NAVION
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,560 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA198) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260501009639A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MAY 1, 2026 AT APPROX 1730 THE MISHAP AIRCRAFT MADE AN EMERGENCY, CONTROLLED WATER DITCHING INTO A LOCAL RESERVOIR.

THE PILOT ARRIVED AT ORANGE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (ORE) AT APPROXIMATELY 1600. THE INTENTION OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO BE A CURRENCY / PROFICIENCY FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST FUELED, 25 GALLONS, IN OCTOBER 2025. THE AIRCRAFT HAD LAST FLOWN ON OCTOBER 25, 2025 AND HAD REMAINED HANGARED SINCE THAT DATE.

THE AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED THRU START, TAXI, AND TAKEOFF WITHOUT REPORTED ABNORMALITIES. THE PILOT MAINTAINED A 90 MPH CLIMB TO 1700' MSL. APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES FROM THE AIRPORT HE EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TO THE FIELD. WHILE IN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 1700' MSL HEADED BACK TO ENTER THE PATTERN, THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT  INDICATION OR AUDIBLE CUES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONFIGURED FOR BEST GLIDE SPEED, AND A RESTART WAS ATTEMPTED TO NO EFFECT. THERE WERE NO AVAILABLE FIELDS DUE TO HEAVILY FORESTED AREA. A LOCAL ROADWAY ROUTE WAS ALSO NOT VIABLE DUE TO ITS SHAPE, ENCROACHING CANOPY, POWER LINES, AND TIME OF DAY. THE PILOT EXECUTED A CONTROLLED, CONFIGURED WATER DITCHING. THE PILOT EGRESSED THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS ABLE TO SWIM TO SHORE WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES REPORED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA26LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA198), May 1, 2026: North American Navion (N8618H), New Salem, MA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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