# NTSB CEN26LA318: Vans RV4, N254MM, Harrisonville, MO, September 13, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: September 13, 2026, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Harrisonville, MO
- Coordinates: 38.610194, -94.343528 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6102&lon=-94.3435&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203817
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA318
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203817/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA318

## Preliminary report

On September 13, 2026, about 0930 central daylight time, a Vans Aircraft Inc, RV-4, N254MM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Harrisonville, Missouri. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that while cruising at 5,500 ft mean sea level and 152 knots, about 5 to 10 miles south of Lawrence Smith Memorial Airport (LRY), Harrisonville, Missouri, the canopy unlatched warning light began to intermittently illuminate and extinguish. A few seconds after, the airplane was substantially damaged when the canopy separated from the airplane. The pilot executed a 180° turn and landed without further incident at LRY. The canopy was subsequently located about 5.3 nautical miles southeast of LRY. The airplane and canopy were 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: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Meacham Bruce E RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05622WV), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N254MM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N254MM), registered now, S/N 2208, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS RV4
- Registry model: [Meacham Bruce E RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/meacham-bruce-e-rv-4) (registry code 05622WV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-B2C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2c) (registry code 42139, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2208
- Year built: 2008
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed: 0N0, Roosterville, MO
- Destination: MO9, Miller, MO
- Airport: LRY, Lawrence Smith Memorial Airport

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KLRY
- METAR: METAR KLRY 131435Z AUTO 12005KT 10SM CLR 22/17 A3012 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W=

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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