# NTSB WPR26LA275: Czech Aircraft Works Mermaid Skeeter 2, N42SK, Cougar, WA, July 22, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 22, 2026, 11:29 local (18:29 UTC)
- Place: Cougar, WA · Yale Lake
- Coordinates: 46.029463, -122.30974 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0295&lon=-122.3097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203456
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA275
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203456/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA275

## Preliminary report

On July 22, 2026, about 1129 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur built Czech Aircraft Works Mermaid Skeeter 2 airplane, N42SK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cougar, Washington. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A review of a video provided by a witness showed the airplane at a distance while flying at a low altitude, in a right banking turn. The airplane subsequently began to descend while in a right bank and impacted the water of Yale Lake. The airplane remained partially above water surface for an unspecified time before it ultimately became submerged. Recovery of the wreckage is currently pending.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Mclagan William SKEETER2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05632NH), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mclagan William SKEETER2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05632NH), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42SK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42SK), registered now, S/N 001, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Czech Aircraft Works Mermaid Skeeter 2
- Registry model: [Mclagan William SKEETER2](https://openairdocs.org/model/mclagan-william-skeeter2) (registry code 05632NH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300a) (registry code 34804, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Year built: 2013
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Departed: WA81, Vancouver, WA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: KSPB, 28 nm away
- METAR: METAR KSPB 221753Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 29/18 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP110 T02940178 10294 20189 58009=

## 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 20260722011099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260722011099A), Jul 22, 2026: Mclagan William SKEETER2, Yale, OR, Substantial damage. Pilot stated loss of control causing the airplane to bank unrecoverably, resulting in impact with the water. Witnesses reported that the pilot stated there was…

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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