Amateur-built I RG accident near Utica, Minnesota, July 9, 2026
On July 9, 2026 at about 11:05 pm local time, a amateur-built I RG, registered N141CG, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Utica, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2026 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Utica, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built I RG
- Registration
- N141CG · registry record · serial 683R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 9, 2026, about 1805 central daylight time, a Glasair 1RG airplane, N141CG, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Utica, Minnesota. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the flight was for the purpose of checking the electric pitch trim system of the airplane. While testing the system in flight, at altitudes between 2,000 and 3,000 ft msl, the engine lost power. At this time the pilot had the electronic flight information (EFIS) screen of his avionics suite displaying mostly flight information. When the engine lost power, the pilot switched the EFIS to the engine management page and it showed that the airplane’s header tank was empty. The pilot attempted to restore engine power but was unsuccessful. He executed a forced landing to a road. During the landing, while attempting to avoid obstacles along the roadway. The airplane went off the road and struck a culvert before coming to rest. During the forced landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. Discussion regarding the airplane’s fuel system with the pilot and with the original builder of the airplane revealed that the airplane had a single main wing tank, and a fuselage mounted header tank. Each tank was connected to a selector valve which determined which tank the engine would draw fuel from. In addition, there was a transfer pump installed that allowed pumping fuel from the wing tank to the header tank. Any overflow of fuel from the header tank would return to the wing tank. The original builder stated that it was possible to leave the transfer pump on at all times with the selector valve set to the header tank. The pilot stated that during the accident flight the transfer pump switch was in the “on” position and he verified this when the engine lost power. Once the engine lost power the pilot switched the fuel selector to the main wing tank and attempted to restart the engine without success. Further testing of the transfer pump is planned.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fuel starvation during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: RST Rochester MN at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 55Y Rushford MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from KRST, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRST 092254Z 32007KT 8SM CLR 27/19 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP114 T02720189=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA250.