Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

June 20, 2026 · Comp Air CA6-WB · N82BT

Nicholasville, KY

Overview

Report Status
Factual report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 20, 2026
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Nicholasville, KY
Aircraft
Comp Air CA6-WB (2004)
Tail Number
N82BT
Operator
Tonner Brian P
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
WPR26FA223

On June 20, 2026, about 0846 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Comp Air CA6-WB, N82BT, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Nicholasville, Kentucky. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Recorded ADS-B data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed that the airplane departed from Lexington, Kentucky (LEX), runway 27 at about 0840:00, made a climbing left turn toward the southeast and ascended to an altitude of about 4,500 ft mean sea level (msl). At 0844:57, the data showed that the airplane began a descent, and its groundspeed steadily increased, until ADS-B contact was lost, about 1 nautical mile north of the accident location at 0845:23. Review of radio communications between the pilot, Lexington Tower and Terminal Radar Approach Control revealed that about 1 minute after departure, the pilot established radio communications with Terminal Radar Approach Control and requested flight-following services. At 0845:23, the controller stated radar contact was lost, and despite multiple attempts, no response from the pilot was received. Figure 1: ADS-B Flight Path A flight log recovered from the accident site identified Gwinnett County Airport–Briscoe Field (LZU), Lawrenceville, Georgia, as the intended destination for the flight segment, with subsequent waypoints continuing to Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport (FHB), Fernandina Beach, Florida. According to witness video and audio captured by a doorbell camera near the accident site, the airplane was observed flying at a low altitude while emitting a grinding noise, followed by a popping sound. Witnesses reported that the fuselage then descended inverted after separating from both wings. The airplane continued in an inverted, near-vertical descent until the airplane went out of visual range. Several witnesses described the airplane as “spinning” about its lateral axis in the vertical descent. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted level pasture terrain at a horse farm approximately 8 nautical miles south of LEX at an elevation of about 890 ft mean sea level. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was the engine, which was found inverted, partially embedded within terrain, and partially separated from the fuselage. The fuselage came to rest on its left side approximately 2 ft east of the engine. The debris path extended approximately 1,700 ft, on a heading of about 090° magnetic from the main wreckage. Throughout the wreckage debris path, various components of the airplane, including portions of the flight control surfaces and propeller fragments were observed. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

Full Narrative

On June 20, 2026, about 0846 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Comp Air CA6-WB, N82BT, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Nicholasville, Kentucky. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Recorded ADS-B data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed that the airplane departed from Lexington, Kentucky (LEX), runway 27 at about 0840:00, made a climbing left turn toward the southeast and ascended to an altitude of about 4,500 ft mean sea level (msl). At 0844:57, the data showed that the airplane began a descent, and its groundspeed steadily increased, until ADS-B contact was lost, about 1 nautical mile north of the accident location at 0845:23. Review of radio communications between the pilot, Lexington Tower and Terminal Radar Approach Control revealed that about 1 minute after departure, the pilot established radio communications with Terminal Radar Approach Control and requested flight-following services. At 0845:23, the controller stated radar contact was lost, and despite multiple attempts, no response from the pilot was received. Figure 1: ADS-B Flight Path A flight log recovered from the accident site identified Gwinnett County Airport–Briscoe Field (LZU), Lawrenceville, Georgia, as the intended destination for the flight segment, with subsequent waypoints continuing to Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport (FHB), Fernandina Beach, Florida. According to witness video and audio captured by a doorbell camera near the accident site, the airplane was observed flying at a low altitude while emitting a grinding noise, followed by a popping sound. Witnesses reported that the fuselage then descended inverted after separating from both wings. The airplane continued in an inverted, near-vertical descent until the airplane went out of visual range. Several witnesses described the airplane as “spinning” about its lateral axis in the vertical descent. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted level pasture terrain at a horse farm approximately 8 nautical miles south of LEX at an elevation of about 890 ft mean sea level. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was the engine, which was found inverted, partially embedded within terrain, and partially separated from the fuselage. The fuselage came to rest on its left side approximately 2 ft east of the engine. The debris path extended approximately 1,700 ft, on a heading of about 090° magnetic from the main wreckage. Throughout the wreckage debris path, various components of the airplane, including portions of the flight control surfaces and propeller fragments were observed. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:46 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftComp Air CA6-WB
Tail NumberN82BT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorTonner Brian P
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 59 F
Altimeter30.05 inHg
Observation Time09:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data