North American SNJ-5C accident near Midland, Virginia, June 6, 2026
On June 6, 2026 at about 1:40 pm local time, a 1944 North American SNJ-5C, registered N98RJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Midland, Virginia (Warrenton-Fauquier airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 6, 2026 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Virginia · Warrenton-Fauquier · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American SNJ-5C, built 1944 · all SNJ-5Cs on the register
- Registration
- N98RJ · registry record · serial 90752
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 6, 2026, about 0940 eastern daylight time, a North American SNJ-5C, N98RJ was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Midland, Virginia. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot of the airplane departed from Culpeper Regional Airport (CJR), Culpepper, Virginia and joined a formation flight of 4 airplanes in position No. 3 to perform maneuvers for airshow practice. About 0940, while flying at 3,800 ft mean sea level (msl), 4 nautical miles northeast of Warrenton/Fauquier Airport (HWY), Warrenton, Virginia, the pilot reported that the airplane’s propeller separated and impacted the left wing. The pilot executed an emergency power off landing at HWY without further incident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the leading edge of the left wing was substantially damaged from the left landing light to approximately 8 feet outboard of the light. The propeller, and a portion of the crankshaft that also separated from the engine, were not recovered. Ferrous metal debris were present on a magnetic chip detector in the engine, and ferrous and non-ferrous metal debris were present in the propeller oil feed pipe channel and sump. Metal particulate was also found in the oil filter and suction screen. The remaining end of the crankshaft displayed signatures consistent with tortional shear, with the propeller guide channels being slanted. The engine 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
- Part(s) separation from AC during maneuvering defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 2026; 9.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: Wag Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CJR Culpeper VA at 1:14 pm
- Destination: CJR Culpeper VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,000 ft by 93 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KHWY
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHWY 061555Z AUTO 20003KT 10SM CLR 29/16 A2999 RMK AO2 T02930162
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 ERA26LA232.