# NTSB ERA26LA198: North American Navion, N8618H, New Salem, MA, May 1, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: May 1, 2026, 19:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: New Salem, MA · Fishing Area 2 - Coordinates: 42.51775, -72.295409 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5177&lon=-72.2954&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA198 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202928/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA198 ## Preliminary report On May 1, 2026, about 1910 eastern daylight time, a North American Navion, N8618H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near New Salem, Massachusetts. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he conducted a routine preflight inspection, which included flight controls, oil level, and fuel sump checks. Following his inspection, he started the aircraft and taxied to the runway run-up area. The before takeoff checks were normal with no abnormalities observed before departure. After departure, the pilot climbed to 1,700 ft mean seal level and proceeded south toward Quabbin Reservoir. Upon reaching the reservoir, he turned north toward the airport. Shortly thereafter, while in straight and level flight, the engine lost all power. The pilot established best glide speed and attempted to restart the engine without success. Realizing he could not reach the airport, and considering the local roadway traffic, tree coverage, and powerlines, he decided, the safest option was to ditch the airplane in the reservoir. During the approach, the airplane struck trees before touching down on the surface of the water. The airplane subsequently began to sink, and the pilot egressed through the sliding canopy. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and wings. The wreckage was recovered and 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: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [North American NAVION, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=6150130), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [North American NAVION, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6150130), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [North American NAVION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=6150130), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8618H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8618H), registered now, S/N NAV-4-583, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN NAVION - Registry model: [North American NAVION](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-navion) (registry code 6150130) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E225-4](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-4) (registry code 17162, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NAV-4-583 - Year built: 1947 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 2025 - Departed: ORE, Orange, MA - Airport: ORE, Orange Municipal - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KORE, 3 nm away - METAR: METAR KORE 012252Z AUTO 26009KT 230V300 10SM CLR 15/M06 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP098 T01501056 ## 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 20260501009639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260501009639A), May 1, 2026: North American NAVION, New Salem, MA, Substantial damage. On may 1, 2026 at approx 1730 the mishap aircraft made an emergency, controlled water ditching into a local reservoir. The pilot arrived at orange municipal… ## Other investigations on N8618H (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA67D0288](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA67D0288), Oct 30, 1966: Navion A (N8618H), Lake Wales, FL, substantial damage 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.