Rainbow Aircraft (PTY) LTD CHEETAH XLS accident near Knightdale, North Carolina, May 27, 2026
On May 27, 2026 at about 6:20 pm local time, a 2009 Rainbow Aircraft (PTY) LTD CHEETAH XLS, registered N146RC, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Knightdale, North Carolina (Raleigh East airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- May 27, 2026 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Knightdale, North Carolina · Raleigh East · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rainbow Aircraft (PTY) LTD CHEETAH XLS, built 2009
- Registration
- N146RC · registry record · serial CH090
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 27, 2026, about 1420 eastern daylight time, a special light sport Rainbow Cheetah XLS airplane, N146RC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Knightdale, North Carolina. The flight instructor and student pilot were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that he was the pilot in command of the accident flight. He was conducting an introductory flight for a prospective student pilot and planned to demonstrate several maneuvers. The flight departed Cox Airport (NC81), Apex, North Carolina, with 15 gallons of fuel, destined for Raleigh East Airport (W17), Knightdale, North Carolina, for a low approach followed by touch-and-go landings. Upon arrival at W17 the flight instructor entered the airport traffic pattern, turned from the base leg to final approach, and aligned with the runway. He flew the airplane about 3 ft above the runway’s surface and down its entire length before adding power to initiate a climb. As he added power, the engine began to “sputter”, so he reduced power and the engine stabilized and ran normal at a lower rpm setting. He added power again and the engine sputtered, so he reduced the power a second time. Realizing the airplane could not outclimb trees ahead, he turned right towards an open field. He attempted to add power several times; however, each time the engine would sputter. Unable to reach the field, he attempted to fly between a tree and a parked semi-trailer. The airplane struck the trailer and tree, fell about 30 ft and impacted the ground in a nose down attitude. The right wing separated from the fuselage, and the left wing’s leading edge was damaged. The engine was displaced upward due to impact with the ground. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 31, 2026
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: NC81 Raleigh NC at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,000 ft by 36 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from LHZ, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLHZ 271755Z AUTO 25004KT 10SM SCT024 SCT036 27/21 A3004 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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 ERA26LA219.