WPR26LA295

On August 5, 2026, at about 1034 mountain daylight time, a Van’s Aircraft RV-8, C-GFWR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Great Falls, Montana. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane departed Villeneuve Airport (CZVL), near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and landed on runway 21 at Great Falls International Airport (KGTF), Great Falls, Montana. During the landing rollout, the airplane veered right. The pilot applied engine power while attempting to regain directional control, and the airplane subsequently ground looped to the right and departed the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing contacted the ground. The airplane came to rest in the grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, and fuselage. The pilot reported that the tailwheel assembly had been replaced about two weeks before the accident and that the accident flight was the airplane’s first flight and landing since the replacement. The airplane was retained for examination.