# NTSB CEN26LA120: Vans RV8, N2EQ, Pottsboro, TX, February 19, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 19, 2026, 17:29 local (23:29 UTC) - Place: Pottsboro, TX · On turf runway at Donna Field Airport - Coordinates: 33.8151, -96.734769 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8151&lon=-96.7348&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 19, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202466 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202466/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202466 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA120 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control during the landing roll with a crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Spatscheck Oliver RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05632IM), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Spatscheck Oliver RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05632IM), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Spatscheck Oliver RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05632IM), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Spatscheck Oliver RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05632IM), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Spatscheck Oliver RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05632IM), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Spatscheck Oliver RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05632IM), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Spatscheck Oliver RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05632IM), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while on final approach to runway 36, he observed that the wind was gusty and out of the west. He stated that his tailwheel airplane touched down normally on the grass runway and during the rollout on the main wheels, the tail of the airplane pitched up suddenly. The pilot moved the elevator to the full down aft position; however, the nose of the airplane continued to pitch forward. The airplane flipped over and came to rest upside down. The right wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The grass airstrip did not have weather reporting facilities; however, an airport about 7 nm southeast reported the wind to be 280° at 10 kts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2EQ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2EQ), registered now, S/N 83177, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV8 - Registry model: [Spatscheck Oliver RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/spatscheck-oliver-rv-8) (registry code 05632IM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-M1B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-m1b) (registry code 41871, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 83177 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 838 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-M1B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 1, 2025 - Departed: T20, Gonzales, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 33TE, Donna Fld, runway 36, 2,322 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,613 total, 827 in this make and model, 1,554 as pilot in command, 5.7 in the last 90 days, 5.2 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.71 inHg - Observed at: GYI, 7 nm away - METAR: METAR KGYI 192255Z 28010KT 10SM CLR 19/M02 A2971 ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202466. 2.4 MB in all. - Photos (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 360 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19995317&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20024639&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.