Amateur-built KFA SAFARI XL accident near Saratoga, Wyoming, July 3, 2026
On July 3, 2026 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 2024 amateur-built KFA SAFARI XL, registered N927MD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Saratoga, Wyoming (Shivley Field 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2026 · about 8:20 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Saratoga, Wyoming · Shivley Field Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KFA SAFARI XL, built 2024
- Registration
- N927MD · registry record · serial 092-07-24
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the left wing was lifted by a wind gust, and the airplane began to veer to the left. Despite the pilot’s left flaperon input and application of right rudder, the airplane ground looped to the left. Subsequently, the right wing contacted the runway and the landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 05, with the winds from 330° at 3 knots gusting 14 Knots.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,914 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,767 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 22, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 86.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 2, 2026; 12.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,764 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 916iS A (piston); 86 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGU St. George UT at 3:20 pm
- Destination: KSAA Saratoga WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 8,801 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 11,000 ft; a few clouds
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from KSAA
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSAA 032015Z AUTO 33003G14KT 10SM BKN110 23/M04 A3024 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – The airplane viewed from the front left.
Photograph 2 – The airplane viewed from aft left.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 8, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N927MD on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Rotax 916iS A 123 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Shively Field · nearest airport
- St. George Regional · departed from
- Shively Field · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Wyoming 778 since 1982 · 108 in the last ten years
- Wyoming 3,233 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA248.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.