# NTSB CEN26LA258: Vans RV-8A, N22SZ, Mineral Point, WI, July 17, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 17, 2026, 12:48 local (17:48 UTC)
- Place: Mineral Point, WI
- Coordinates: 42.88688, -90.236666 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8869&lon=-90.2367&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Milwaukee FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203415
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA258
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203415/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA258

## Preliminary report

On July 17, 2026, at 1748 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans Aircraft Inc RV-8A, N22SZ, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. The commercial pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that while en route to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, he stopped at Iowa County Airport, Mineral Point (MRJ), Wisconsin, for fuel and to wait for visual flight conditions to improve at the destination airport. He then departed MRJ, and after climbing to 9,000 ft mean sea level, he switched fuel tanks and a “moment or so” later, the engine lost power. He then initiated a return to MRJ, during which he attempted several engine restarts. The engine restarted during the descent to MRJ, then lost power, restarted again, and continued to operate for the remainder flight to and taxi at MRJ. After the flight, the pilot stated that he talked to six or eight pilots at MRJ, two of which were mechanics, and a mechanic based at MRJ, about the loss of engine power that he had experienced. The group discussed mechanical and electrical fuel pump failures, carburetor icing, vapor lock, and test flying the airplane. On the following day, the pilot attempted a test flight of the airplane from MRJ. The pilot stated that the engine start for the test flight was “very clean normal start,” there were no hot start or fuel vapor problems, and the engine run-up was normal. He said that shortly after takeoff and early in the climb, the airplane engine began to run rough, and he decided to end the test flight and return to the airport. While turning left and climbing into the airport traffic pattern, the engine lost power. The pilot then decided to turn and land the airplane in the opposite direction since there was no engine power to fly an airport traffic pattern. During the turn, the engine started again but later lost power, and the airplane was high and fast. The pilot performed a forced landing on runway 11 where it impacted the runway surface. The airplane sustained substantial to both wings, the engine firewall, and an engine mount. 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-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Rawlins F A/Houseman D VANS RV-8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05611SR), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N22SZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22SZ), registered now, S/N 81381, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-8A
- Registry model: [Rawlins F A/Houseman D VANS RV-8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/rawlins-f-a-houseman-d-vans-rv-8a) (registry code 05611SR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 81381
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 704.6
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot
- Registered owner: Bunn Rosemary J Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 19, 2026
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: MRJ, Iowa County Airport, runway 11, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: PVB, 15 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260717009229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260717009229A), Jul 17, 2026: Rawlins F A/Houseman D VANS RV-8A, Mineral Point, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot statement: day before accident engine was cutting out and then restarting repeatedly; on ground mechanic stated it likely was vapor locking and to test…

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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