CEN25LA250

NTSB accident investigation · Game Composites GB1 Gamebird · Tarkio, MO · July 12, 2025

Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary report
Date
July 12, 2025, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
Place
Tarkio, MO · runway
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N588AFGame Composites GB1 GamebirdN931KZVans RV-8
Defining events
Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/landLanding-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Investigation ongoing
Investigation class
Class 3
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA Flight Standards
Case key
200531

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Preliminary report

What NTSB knew early in the investigation. It may change in the final report.

On July 12, 2025, about 0830 central daylight time, a Game Composites GB-1 Gamebird airplane, N588AF, was substantially damaged, and a Vans RV-8, N931KZ, sustained minor damage, when they were involved in an accident near the Gould Peterson Municipal Airport (K57), Tarkio, Missouri. Neither pilot was injured. Both airplanes were operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. The airport was hosting the Wing Nuts Flying Circus event on the day of the accident. This included an air show, aircraft flybys, and static aircraft displays. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) was in effect on July 11th and July 12th from 1230 until 1430 each day in conjunction with the event. The TFR consisted of a 5 nm radius centered on K57 from the surface to 15,000 ft mean sea level. A temporary control tower was established at K57 for the event and was in operation at the time of the accident. The airport was normally a non-towered airport. The pilot of N588AF was the lead in a formation of five airplanes. He reported reaching the base leg in the traffic pattern and was then cleared to land. The approach was without incident until another pilot in his formation instructed him to execute a go-around. He complied immediately; however, that was not in time to prevent a collision with an airplane already on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage when the rudder contacted the propeller of the airplane on the runway. The lower aft corner of the rudder was cutoff by the propeller. The pilot of N931KZ reported that he had landed and was rolling out at the time of the accident. He heard an increase in noise and then a severe vibration as the other airplane passed overhead. The propeller of his airplane contacted the rudder of the other airplane. A witness reported that he observed the events leading to the accident. He landed about 30 minutes prior and had parked his airplane in a grass area about halfway down the runway. From that vantage point, he observed an airplane on what appeared to be a straight-in final for runway 36. He then observed a second airplane turn from a close-in left base to final as it descended on top of the first airplane on final. He was unable to see if the airplanes continued or if they came into contact with each other. From his vantage point, it did not appear that either plane was in distress. A witness reported that he observed the events leading to the accident. He landed about 30 minutes prior and had parked his airplane in a grass area about halfway down the runway. From that vantage point, he observed an airplane on what appeared to be a straight-in final for runway 36. He then observed a second airplane turn from a close-in left base to final as it descended on top of the first airplane on final. He was unable to see if the airplanes continued or if they came into contact with each other. From his vantage point, it did not appear that either plane was in distress. Figure 1 – Rudder damage toaccident airplane

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

N588AF · Game Composites GB1 Gamebird

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N588AF
Reported as
Game Composites GB1 Gamebird
Category
Airplane
Serial number
0039
Built
2021
Airframe hours
311
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Aerobatic
Last inspection
Annual · April 3, 2025 · 20 hours before
Departed
K57 · Tarkio, MO
Destination
K57 · Tarkio, MO
Airport
K57 · Gould Peterson Municipal, runway 36, 3,600 × 75 ft, concrete

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N931KZ
Reported as
Vans RV-8
Category
Airplane
Serial number
83685
Built
2024
Airframe hours
74
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · August 19, 2024 · 74 hours before
Departed
PMV · Murray, NE
Destination
K57 · Tarkio, MO
Equipment
Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Satellite tracking device, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
340° at 9 knots, gusting 16
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
72 °F, dew point 66 °F
Altimeter
29.99 inHg
Observed at
KSDA, 18 nm away
METAR
METAR KSDA 121355Z AUTO 34009G16KT 10SM FEW055 22/19 A2999

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.