# NTSB CEN26LA251: Vans RV-12, N812MM, Grand Junction, CO, July 10, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 10, 2026, 10:23 local (16:23 UTC)
- Place: Grand Junction, CO
- Coordinates: 38.83019, -108.48637 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8302&lon=-108.4864&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Salt Lake City FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203384
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA251
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203384/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA251

## Preliminary report

On July 10, 2026, about 1023 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12 airplane, N812MM, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Grand Junction, Colorado. The pilot and a passenger were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he picked up the airplane at Blake Field Airport (AJZ), Delta, Colorado, after a condition inspection was completed and planned to fly to Mineral County Memorial Airport, Creede, Colorado. After departure from AJZ, the Garmin G3X Touch display dimmed and shut down, which was immediately followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot stated there was no electrical power to the starter switch, but the communication radio continued for function. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. 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.

- [Enroute: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Ron M Dunn RV-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05634FU), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N812MM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N812MM), registered now, S/N 120517, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12
- Registry model: [Ron M Dunn RV-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/ron-m-dunn-rv-12) (registry code 05634FU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 120517
- Year built: 2015
- Airframe hours: 522.2
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot
- Registered owner: Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2026
- Departed: AJZ, Delta, CO
- Destination: C24, Creede, CO
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: GJT, 15 nm away

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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