20260517009159A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-300 · Empire, NV · May 17, 2026

Date: May 17, 2026 · 07:39 local
Place: Empire, NV
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N8502N
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR26FA189
Reported as: Piper PA-32-300
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Airline transport
Pilot’s flight hours: 30,000 total

N8502NRegistered now · Piper PA-32-300S/N 32-7140052 · Built 1971 Airframe modelPiper PA-32-300 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

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.

On may 17, 2026, at approximately 07:39 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 cherokee six crashed approximately 6.5 nautical miles southwest of Empire, Nevada. The cross-country flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91, departing reno-stead airport (krts) in Nevada with a planned destination of sunrise skypark airport (ID40) in Idaho. Both occupants on board sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. Meteorological data for the route of flight indicated pre-existing forecasts for structural icing conditions, convective turbulence, and low-level wind gusts.

This report will be updated as more information becomes available.

As the FAA filed it

ON MAY 17, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 07:39 LOCAL TIME, A PIPER PA-32-300 CHEROKEE SIX CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 6.5 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHWEST OF EMPIRE, NEVADA. THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91, DEPARTING RENO-STEAD AIRPORT (KRTS) IN NEVADA WITH A PLANNED DESTINATION OF SUNRISE SKYPARK AIRPORT (ID40) IN IDAHO. BOTH OCCUPANTS ON BOARD SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. METEOROLOGICAL DATA FOR THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT INDICATED PRE-EXISTING FORECASTS FOR STRUCTURAL ICING CONDITIONS, CONVECTIVE TURBULENCE, AND LOW-LEVEL WIND GUSTS.

THIS REPORT WILL BE UPDATED AS MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

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 WPR26FA189Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportEmpire, NVOn May 17, 2026, about 0738 PDT, a Piper PA-32-300, N8502N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Empire, Nevada. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal…May 17, 2026 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8502N · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19820208005529IForced/Precautionary Landing · Jackpot, NVZa engine lost power at 250 feet after takeoff. Pilot stalled on landing, damaged right main gear, propeller tips.Feb 8, 1982 · Reported as Piper PA32R300 · Minor damage Accident 19750301005329AFinal Approach · Lake Geneva, WIAcft main gr struck 2-3 ft hi snow bank at the beginning of rwy 25 threshold.Mar 1, 1975 · Substantial damage