What happened
On February 28, 2026, at approximately 10:05 MST, a Vans Aircraft RV-8, registration N80AR, was involved in an accident near Hurricane, Utah. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
At the time of the accident, the aircraft was part of a five-plane formation flying event staged out of Saint George Regional Airport (SGU). The aircraft was flying in the number two position of an extended trail formation. Witnesses reported the group was flying at approximately 500 feet above ground level (AGL) with an airspeed of roughly 130 mph and spacing of 800 to 1,000 feet between aircraft.
Pilots flying behind the accident aircraft observed the plane pitch upward and roll to the left. While the pilot appeared to attempt a recovery and the aircraft reached a wings-level attitude before impact, the aircraft struck terrain. The accident resulted in 1 fatality.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site showed the aircraft impacted an upward-sloping desert area at an elevation of 4,538 feet MSL on a heading of 200° magnetic. The initial point of contact was a ground scar measuring 30 feet long and 15 feet wide, containing propeller blades, engine cowling, and rudder fragments.
A debris path approximately 247 feet long and 70 feet wide extended from the initial contact point to the main wreckage. Investigators identified a second ground disturbance 176 feet from the initial contact containing unsecured interior items, and a third area of displaced dirt extending to the main wreckage. The fuselage came to rest inverted on a heading of 175° magnetic, though the engine, engine mount, and instrument panel remained in an upright position. All major structural components were accounted for at the site.