Tag Aviation PTY LTD Titanium Explorer accident near Cashmere, Washington, July 16, 2026
On July 16, 2026 at about 5:20 pm local time, a 2018 Tag Aviation PTY LTD Titanium Explorer (helicopter), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N498TE, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Cashmere, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured.
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
- July 16, 2026 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Cashmere, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Tag Aviation PTY LTD Titanium Explorer 115HP, built 2018, amateur-built
- Registration
- N498TE · registry record · serial 0049-0718
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,267 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.