Pilot Debrief

NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-5C near Midland, VA — 2026-06-06

Investigation ongoingERA26LA232
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Date
2026-06-06
Location
Midland, VA, USA
Airport
HWY
Aircraft
NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-5C
Registration
N98RJ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

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.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Part(s) separation from AC · Maneuvering
View NTSB preliminary report

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