# NTSB ERA26FA326: Maclura Evolution, N305PV, Tampa, FL, September 3, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: September 3, 2026, 08:15 local (12:15 UTC) - Place: Tampa, FL · Wooded area north of KVDF - Coordinates: 28.018029, -82.349245 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0180&lon=-82.3492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA / FSDO, Pratt & Whitney Canada, TSB Canada - NTSB case key (mKey): 203727 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26FA326 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203727/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA326 ## Preliminary report On September 3, 2026, about 0815 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Evolution airplane, N305PV, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Tampa, Florida. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to preliminary information obtained from the FAA, an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the accident flight departing from Tampa Executive Airport (VDF), Tampa, Florida, with a destination of Elizabeth City Regional Airport (ECG), Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Review of air traffic control data revealed that the pilot acknowledged and correctly read back his IFR clearance and takeoff instructions. The instructions were to fly runway heading (050°) to 2,000 ft and expect 17,000 ft, 10 minutes after departure. No further communications were received from the accident airplane. Review of ADS-B data and security video revealed that the airplane lifted off and turned left, approximately halfway down the 5,000-ft-long runway, at a groundspeed about 80 knots. The airplane flew a 180° left turn in a nose-high, steep left bank, before it descended nose-down into terrain. The wreckage was located in a wooded area of a state water management facility, about 1/3-mile northwest of the touchdown zone for runway 5 at VDF. A debris path was observed, originating with severed tree branches, followed by ground scars, and then terminating at the main wreckage. The debris path was approximately 70 ft-long, on a magnetic course of 220°, and at a descent angle about 35° through the trees. The wreckage came to rest inverted, on a magnetic heading of 310°, and a majority of the airplane’s composite airframe was consumed by a postcrash fire. All major components of the airplane were identified. The engine remained attached to the firewall at the front of the wreckage. Three of the five composite propeller blades remained attached to the hub. The inboard sections of both wings were located behind the engine. The empennage was consumed by fire with the exception of a rudder counterweight and pieces of the rudder that were located underneath the main wreckage. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane single engine sea, and instrument airplane. He was operating under the provisions of BasicMed with his most recent examination and course completed on April 25, 2026. Review of training records revealed that he reported 1,203 total hours of flight experience when he began initial transition training for the make and model airplane on August 26, 2025. The airplane was assembled from a kit in 2020 and issued an FAA experimental airworthiness certificate. It was powered by a Pratt and Whitney PT6A-135A, 550-horsepower turboprop engine, driving a five-blade constant speed Hartzell propeller. The airplane’s most recent condition inspection was completed onAugust 26, 2026. At that time, the airframe and engine had accumulated 581 hours since new. The wreckage 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. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Maclura EVOLUTION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05637HQ), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Maclura EVOLUTION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05637HQ), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Maclura EVOLUTION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05637HQ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N305PV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N305PV), registered now, S/N EVO0074 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MACLURA LLC EVOLUTION (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Maclura EVOLUTION](https://openairdocs.org/model/maclura-evolution) (registry code 05637HQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: EVO0074 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 581 - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 26, 2026 - Destination: ECG, Elizabeth City, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: VDF, Tampa Executive Airport, runway 5, 5,000 × 1,000 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: VDF, 140 nm away - METAR: METAR KVDF 031215Z AUTO 05004KT 10SM OVC005 26/26 A2996 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.