Amateur-built SPORTSMAN 2 PLUS 2 accident near Pine, Arizona, August 11, 2026
On August 11, 2026 at about 1:35 am local time, a 2009 amateur-built SPORTSMAN 2 PLUS 2, registered N202AZ, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Pine, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2026 · about 1:35 am local time
- Place
- Pine, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SPORTSMAN 2 PLUS 2, built 2009
- Registration
- N202AZ · registry record · serial 7103
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 10, 2026, at about 1835 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur built Glasair Sportsman 2 Plus 2 airplane, N202AZ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Pine, Arizona. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to preliminary ADS-B data, the airplane departed from runway 06 at Payson Airport (PAN), Payson, Arizona about 1827:07. The airplane flew on a northwest heading, climbing to about 5,850 ft mean sea level (msl) at 1831:51, before turning to the southwest above mountainous terrain about 7 nautical miles (nm) northwest of PAN. The airplane proceeded to the southwest and descended into a canyon, when the ADS-B signal was lost at 1835:47, about an altitude of 4,675 ft msl (about 680 ft above ground level and 136 ft above the canyon rim). The airplane impacted terrain about 3 nm west of the last ADS-B data point, on the northwestern face of a draw at an elevation of about 3,994 ft msl. The accident site area was comprised of roughly 45° sloping terrain with desert junipers and prickly pear cacti scattered along the rocky slope. The first identifiable point of impact (FIPOI) was a desert juniper with separated and damaged branches along with the left wing tip located at the base of the tree. The FIPOI was located about 791 ft above the base of the ravine, and about 1,300 ft below the ridgeline. The wreckage debris path was about 102 ft in length and oriented on a magnetic heading of 175°. The left wing, left aileron, left flap, right wing tip, fuselage, empennage, and engine were distributed throughout the wreckage debris path. A majority of the wreckage was consumed by a post impact fire. The fuselage came to rest in a right wing low, nose down attitude, on a heading of about 022 ° magnetic. The propeller was separated from the crankshaft aft of the propeller flange. Both propeller blades exhibited “S” bending, and leading-edge gouges. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location 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
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PAN Payson AZ at 1:27 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from KPAN, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPAN 110135Z AUTO 21004KT 10SM CLR 30/12 A3015 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.