# NTSB CEN26LA024: Vans RV8, N3545W, McKinney, TX, October 17, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: October 17, 2025, 09:21 local (14:21 UTC)
- Place: McKinney, TX
- Coordinates: 33.208405, -96.742236 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2084&lon=-96.7422&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201891
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA024
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201891/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA024

## Preliminary report

On October 17, 2025, at 0921 central daylight time, an amateur-built RV-8 airplane, N3545W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near McKinney, Texas. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to local authorities, the airplane impacted terrain 1 nautical mile north of Aero County Airport (T31) in McKinney, Texas, under unknown circumstances. According to witness information, the pilot reported via radio communications that he experienced an engine issue while attempting to land. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Unknown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Margiotta Michael A RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05642N2), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3545W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3545W), registered now, S/N 83926, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS RV8
- Registry model: [Margiotta Michael A RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/margiotta-michael-a-rv-8) (registry code 05642N2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming YIO-390 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-yio-390-series) (registry code 42418, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 83926
- Year built: 2021
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airport: 52F

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.

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