# NTSB CEN26LA285: Staudacher Jon ZZ 102, N134ZZ, Vicksburg, MI, August 12, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 12, 2026, 19:06 local (23:06 UTC)
- Place: Vicksburg, MI
- Coordinates: 42.114804, -85.517784 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1148&lon=-85.5178&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203582
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA285
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203582/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA285

## Preliminary report

On August 12, 2026, about 1906 eastern daylight time, a Staudacher ZZ 102 experimental airplane, N134ZZ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Vicksburg, Michigan. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were seriously injured. The flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Preliminary information provided by law enforcement indicated the airplane departed from Thrall Lake Airport (7MI3), Vicksburg, Michigan, and climbed to about 1,500 ft when it descended and impacted terrain. Both occupants were airlifted to hospitals, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. According to the FAA aircraft records, the airplane was likely a unique build with only the accident airplane currently registered. The airplane was built in 2007 and purchased by the pilot in October 2021. According to a Barnstormers Facebook listing, dated November 8, 2025, the airplane had 210 hours total time, and the engine had 210 hours since major overhaul. Postaccident examination by FAA inspectors revealed the presence of fuel in both fuel tanks. However, when draining fuel from the fuel tanks, an orange substance was found in the fuel line. 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.

- [Takeoff: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Staudacher Jon ZZ 102, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=059018R), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N134ZZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N134ZZ), registered now, S/N 34 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STAUDACHER JON ZZ 102
- Registry model: [Staudacher Jon ZZ 102](https://openairdocs.org/model/staudacher-jon-zz-102) (registry code 059018R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 34
- Year built: 2007
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thorne Matthew L
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed: 7MI3, Vicksburg, MI
- Airport: 7MI3
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observed at: KAZO, 7 nm away
- METAR: METAR KAZO 122253Z 25006KT 10SM OVC022 24/21 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP095 T02440206

## 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 20260812012069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260812012069A), Aug 12, 2026: Staudacher Jon ZZ 102, Vicksburg, MI, Substantial damage. On August 12, 2026, at approximately 1800 local time, a ZZ-102 aircraft, [privacy data omitted], registered to and flown by an airline transport pilot,…

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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