What happened
On October 17, 2025, at 09:21 central daylight time, a VANS RV8, registration N3545W, was involved in an accident near McKinney, Texas. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
According to reports from local authorities, the airplane struck terrain approximately 1 nautical mile north of Aero County Airport (T31). During the event, the pilot communicated via radio that an engine issue had occurred while he was attempting to land. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft and one serious injury to the pilot.