NTSB CEN26LA024 — 2025-10-17 · McKinney, Texas, United States

Current FAA registration · N3545W

Make / Model: VAN'S AIRCRAFT RV-8
Year of manufacture: 2021 · 4 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING YIO-390 SER (210 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 20241113
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A3F6C5

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N3545W Vans RV8 Serious

Factual narrative

On October 17, 2025, at 0921 central daylight time, an amateur-built RV-8 airplane, N3545W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near McKinney, Texas. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to local authorities, the airplane impacted terrain 1 nautical mile north of Aero County Airport (T31) in McKinney, Texas, under unknown circumstances. According to witness information, the pilot reported via radio communications that he experienced an engine issue while attempting to land. The airplane was retained for further examination. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_CEN26LA024.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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