Vans Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 172 events recorded from 1988 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 05, 2021 | Harrison, MI | N16TG | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during landing approach, which resulted in…The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during landing approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. |
| Oct 31, 2021 | Chattahoochee, FL | N479JJ | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
The pilot’s failure to properly secure the canopy before takeoff, allowing the canopy to open and then separate in flight, which resulted in the pilot…The pilot’s failure to properly secure the canopy before takeoff, allowing the canopy to open and then separate in flight, which resulted in the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. |
| Sep 27, 2021 | Hyvinkää, OF | OH-XRV | Incident | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Sep 13, 2021 | ATLANTA, GA | N798RT | Incident | substantial | A loss of directional control and subsequent runway excursion resulting as a result of the inadvertent rudder input by the passenger. |
| Sep 03, 2021 | Delray, FL | N388RV | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and improper fuel planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. |
| Aug 21, 2021 | Mount Holly, NJ | N838WT | Minor | substantial |
The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a touchdown on the nose gear first, resulting in damage to the nose gear and a runw…The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a touchdown on the nose gear first, resulting in damage to the nose gear and a runway excursion. |
| Aug 01, 2021 | Urbana, OH | N443JB | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. |
| Jul 25, 2021 | Ocracoke, NC | N464DM | Serious (2) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to perform a go-around during the unstabilized approach, which resulted in the airplane landing too far down the runway, and a sub…The pilot's failure to perform a go-around during the unstabilized approach, which resulted in the airplane landing too far down the runway, and a subsequent runway excursion. |
| Jul 15, 2021 | Riverside, CA | N468AC | Serious (1) | substantial | A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined from available evidence. |
| Jul 04, 2021 | Pottstown, PA | N654C | Incident | destroyed | A total loss of power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. |
| Jun 15, 2021 | Buckingham, PA | N74MS | Fatal (1) | substantial |
An exhaust system leak that resulted in failure of the oil quick drain, a loss of oil lubrication, an in-flight fire, and the pilot’s subsequent loss …An exhaust system leak that resulted in failure of the oil quick drain, a loss of oil lubrication, an in-flight fire, and the pilot’s subsequent loss of airplane control. |
| Jun 07, 2021 | Porterville, CA | N94PJ | Fatal (1) | destroyed | A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available information. |
| Jun 04, 2021 | West Portsmouth, OH | N20YY | Minor | substantial | The pilot’s improper use of the airplane’s fuel system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. |
| Apr 22, 2021 | Columbia, OF | VH-XWI | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Apr 15, 2021 | Oljato-Monument Valley, UT | N345DL | Minor | substantial |
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while compensating for a downdraft during landing, which resulted in the airplane touching down short…The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while compensating for a downdraft during landing, which resulted in the airplane touching down short of the runway on soft terrain and nosing over. |
| Feb 22, 2021 | Mayfield, KY | N383DB | Fatal (1) | substantial |
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of airplane control, and subsequent im…The pilot's exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of airplane control, and subsequent impact with terrain. |
| Feb 09, 2021 | Thonotosassa, FL | N611E | Minor | substantial |
The pilot’s failure to apply adequate torque on the fuel pressure line aluminum adaptor fitting, which resulted in the loosening of the adapter, a los…The pilot’s failure to apply adequate torque on the fuel pressure line aluminum adaptor fitting, which resulted in the loosening of the adapter, a loss of fuel flow, and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s choice of a soft aluminum automotive fitting, and the design, which required hand-tightening with a shortened, modified wrench that prevented a measured torque application. |
| Dec 08, 2020 | Hitchcock, TX | N69HF | Fatal (1) | destroyed | The pilot’s impairment by the effects of ingested alcohol, which resulted in the loss of airplane control and impact with terrain. |
| Dec 07, 2020 | Sadler, TX | N423WH | Serious (1) | substantial | The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. |
| Nov 26, 2020 | Telluride, CO | N87LW | Fatal (2) | substantial |
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the turn from the base leg to final approach, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its cr…The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the turn from the base leg to final approach, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and entering an inadvertent aerodynamic stall/spin at a low altitude over mountainous terrain. |
| Nov 14, 2020 | Milton, FL | N311SV | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing. |
| Sep 21, 2020 | Hilliard, FL | N800PB | Fatal (1) | destroyed | A total loss of engine power due to oil starvation. |
| Sep 19, 2020 | Zeeland, MI | N94KJ | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during a visual approach in dark night conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplan…The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during a visual approach in dark night conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent flight experience at night. |
| Sep 19, 2020 | Clovis, NM | N250LB | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control during initial climb due to distraction, which resulted in an in-flight upset and impact with terrain. |
| Sep 13, 2020 | Steinhatchee, FL | N4889R | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
The failure of the air traffic controller to provide hazardous weather information to the pilot, resulting in the flight’s encounter with strong updra…The failure of the air traffic controller to provide hazardous weather information to the pilot, resulting in the flight’s encounter with strong updraft conditions, an inflight loss of airplane control, and an in-flight breakup. Contributing was the pilot’s decision to initiate a flight into an area under the influence of a tropical storm, with forecast rain showers and thunderstorms, which increased the potential for an encounter with significant convective weather |