Friday, May 30, 2025

Cirrus SR22T GTS G6 platinum, N797CK, accident occurred on May 23, 2025, at San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP/KSBP), San Luis Obispo, California

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel the scene of this accident.

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Ward, Mark

Additional Participating Entities:

  • Eric; FAA

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N797CK

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200225/pdf


  • Location: San Luis Obispo, CA 
  • Accident Number: ANC25LA040 
  • Date & Time: May 23, 2025, 09:12 Local  
  • Registration: N7175D
  • Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22T 
  • Injuries: 2 None
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

The NTSB is conducting a Class 4 investigation into this event. A preliminary report will not be issued but a final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.

Champion 7ECA Citabria, N6310N, fatal accident occurred on April 29, 2025, near Flying N Ranch Airport (CA0), Cottonwood, California

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Gutierrez, Eric

Additional Participating Entities:

  • Robert D. Henson; FAA; Sacramento, CA

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N6310N

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200080/pdf


  • Location: Cottonwood, CA
  • Accident Number: WPR25FA145 
  • Date & Time: April 29, 2025, 15:34 Local 
  • Registration: N6310N 
  • Aircraft: Champion 7ECA 
  • Injuries: 2 Fatal 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

On April 29, 2025, at 1534 Pacific daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N6310N, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Cottonwood, California. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.


A witness, who was friend of both pilots, and located at the Red Bluff Municipal Airport (RBL), Red Bluff, California, reported that about 30 minutes prior to the accident, he observed the pilots at the airport and approached them for general conversation. He observed the flight instructor seated in the front and the rear seated pilot was undergoing instruction for his flight instructor certificate. According to the witness, the flight instructor was acting as a student pilot, and rear-seated pilot was acting as the flight instructor in preparation for an upcoming a check ride.


First responders located near the accident site reported that they observed black smoke rising toward the sky. When they arrived at the accident site location, they saw the airplane adjacent to a residence as well as a person (later identified as an occupant of the airplane), walking around the area. They began to extinguish the fire and render aide to the patient. The first responders stated that the patient was alert and able to tell them that he self-extricated from the airplane and someone else, the flight instructor, was still in the airplane. The patient told the first responders that the “man who was in the plane was flying at the time of the accident and had overshot the runway they were attempting to land on.” He added that the pilot flying “powered up and then lost control of the [air]plane.”


Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted several trees and came to rest at a base of a tree about 585 ft south of the departure end of runway 16 at the Flying N Ranch Airport (CA04), Cottonwood, California. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a downed fence post located about 40 ft south of the departure end of the runway, aligned on an extended centerline. The downed fence post was about 5 ft in height and was separated at the base. The downed fence post exhibited a black transfer mark near the top of the post. A tree, about 40 ft tall, was about 380 ft south of the FIPC, had damaged limbs near the top of the tree. The debris path was oriented along a heading of about 355° magnetic and about 100 ft in length from the FIPC to the main wreckage. The fuselage came to rest on its left side in an approximate 10° nose low attitude, on a heading of about 310° magnetic, at an elevation of 538 ft mean sea level (msl). The right wing and left main landing gear were separated from the fuselage and located about 5 to 10 north of the main wreckage.


The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub, N7175D, accident occurred on May 26, 2025, at Oldham County Airport (E52), Vega, Texas

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel the scene of this accident.

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Hodges, Michael

Additional Participating Entities:

  • Jason Wilson; FAA Lubbock FSDO; Lubbock, TX

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N7175D

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200228/pdf

  • Location: Vega, TX 
  • Accident Number: CEN25LA188 
  • Date & Time: May 26, 2025, 15:40 Local  
  • Registration: N7175D
  • Aircraft: Piper PA-18 
  • Injuries: 2 Serious
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

The NTSB is conducting a Class 4 investigation into this event. A preliminary report will not be issued but a final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.

Cessna 172N Skyhawk, N6132G, accident occurred on May 26, 2025, at First Air Field (W16), Monroe, Washington

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel the scene of this accident.

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Whitaker, Kathryn

Additional Participating Entities:

  • Justin Hanson; Federal Aviation Administration; Seattle, WA

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N6132G

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200224/pdf

  • Location: Monroe, WA 
  • Accident Number: WPR25LA162 
  • Date & Time: May 26, 2025, 16:11 Local  
  • Registration: N6132G
  • Aircraft: Cessna 172N 
  • Injuries: 2 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

The NTSB is conducting a Class 4 investigation into this event. A preliminary report will not be issued but a final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.

Piper PA-18A-150 Super Cub, N1364C, accident occurred on May 22, 2025, near Susitna, Alaska

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel the scene of this accident.

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Hill, Millicent

Additional Participating Entities:

  • Andrew Flack; FAA/FSDO; Anchorage, AK

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N1364C

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200226/pdf

  • Location: Susitna, AK 
  • Accident Number: ANC25LA041 
  • Date & Time: May 22, 2025, 19:10 Local  
  • Registration: N1364C
  • Aircraft: Piper PA-18A 150 
  • Injuries: 2 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

The NTSB is conducting a Class 4 investigation into this event. A preliminary report will not be issued but a final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.

Cessna 182P Skylane, N1298M, accident occurred on May 22, 2025, at Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM/KMGM), Montgomery, Alabama

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel the scene of this accident.

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Boggs, Daniel

Additional Participating Entities:

  • Pete Rosa; FAA; Birmingham, AL

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N1298M

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200198/pdf

  • Location: Montgomery, AL 
  • Accident Number: ERA25LA209 
  • Date & Time:May 22, 2025, 07:35 Local  
  • Registration: N1298M
  • Aircraft: Cessna 182P 
  • Injuries: 1 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

The NTSB is conducting a Class 4 investigation into this event. A preliminary report will not be issued but a final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.

MBB BK 117C-1, N117NC, accident occurred on May 19, 2025, near Fort Washington, Pennsylvania

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel the scene of this accident.

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Alleyne, Eric

Additional Participating Entities:

  • Larry J Solley; FAA/FSDO; Philadelphia , PA 
  • Seth Buttner; Airbus Helicopters; Grand Prairie , TX 
  • Brady Carpenter; Metro Aviation; Shreveport , LA

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N4831A

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200184/pdf

  • Location: Fort Washington, PA  
  • Accident Number: ERA25LA204
  • Date & Time: May 19, 2025, 19:41 Local  
  • Registration: N117NC
  • Aircraft: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH MBB-BK 117 C-1 
  • Injuries: 3 Minor 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled - Air Medical (Medical emergency)

On May 19, 2025, at 1941 eastern daylight time, a Eurocopter Deutschland Gmbh BK117-C1, N117NC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot and two passengers’ received minor injuries. The helicopter was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an air medical flight.


According to the pilot, the flight originated the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center North Heliport (PA39), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was enroute to Wings Field Airport (LOM), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the helicopter’s home base, following the completion of a patient transport mission.


While cruising at an altitude of about 1,300 ft mean sea level and 120 knots indicated airspeed, approximately 3 to 4 nautical miles south of LOM, the helicopter became uncontrollable and began shuddering violently. The pilot reported there were no visual or aural warnings prior to the event. He continued that he experienced a total loss of tail rotor control, including the loss of pedal authority and tail rotor thrust.


The pilot lowered the collective and initiated an autorotation descent. During the descent, he identified a grass field adjacent to a driveway as a suitable forced landing area. The helicopter touched down following a rotation of about 180 degrees. The pilot performed an emergency engine shutdown and applied the rotor brake.


The wreckage has was retained for further examination.


Excalibur Aircraft Excalibur, N4831A, accident occurred on May 18, 2025, at Mountain View Airport (MNF/KMNF), Mountain View, Missouri

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel the scene of this accident.

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Abraham, Laura

Additional Participating Entities:

  • Nick Daleo; FAA; St Louis, MO

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N4831A

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200173/pdf

  • Location: Mountain View, MO 
  • Accident Number: CEN25LA180 
  • Date & Time: May 18, 2025, 14:20 Local 
  • Registration: N4831A 
  • Aircraft: EXCALIBUR AIRCRAFT EXCALIBUR 
  • Injuries: 2 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

The NTSB is conducting a Class 4 investigation into this event. A preliminary report will not be issued but a final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.

Just JA30 SuperSTOL, N128EL, accident occurred on May 9, 2025, near Evanston, Wyoming

 This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel the scene of this accident.

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Swick, Andrew

Additional Participating Entities:

  • Bruce Hanson; FAA-FSDO; Casper, WY

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N128EL

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200143/pdf

  • Location: Evanston, WY 
  • Accident Number: WPR25LA154 
  • Date & Time: May 9, 2025, 10:20 Local
  • Registration: N128EL 
  • Aircraft: LEE AVIATION LLC JA30 SUPERSTOL 
  • Injuries: 2 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal 

On May 9, 2025, about 1020 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Just Aircraft Superstol, N128EL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Evanston, Wyoming. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.


The pilot reported that shortly after departing runway 23 at the Evanston-Uinta County Burns Field (EVW), Evanston, Wyoming, and while in the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern about 250 ft above ground level, a puff of smoke came out from the top of the engine cowling followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot advanced the throttle, pitched the nose down, and turned the airplane left towards runway 5. Subsequently, the pilot realized he was not going to make it to the runway and initiated a forced landing on a taxiway. The airplane landed hard and short of the taxiway on a hillside and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.


The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

Rutan Long-EZ, N433EZ, accident occurred on May 1, 2025, at Ryan Airfield (RYN/KRYN), Tucson, Arizona

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel the scene of this accident.

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Nixon, Albert

Additional Participating Entities:

  • Jeremy Alexender; Federal Aviation Administration; Scottsdale, AZ

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N433EZ

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200114/pdf

  • Location: Tucson, AZ 
  • Accident Number: WPR25LA148 
  • Date & Time: May 1, 2025, 10:30 Local 
  • Registration: N433EZ 
  • Aircraft: Rutan LONG-EZE 
  • Injuries: 1 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On May 1, 2025, about 1030 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur-built Long EZE, N433EZ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tucson, Arizona. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.


The pilot departed Ryan Field Airport (RYN), Tucson, Arizona, and flew to Marana Regional Airport (AVQ), Marana, Arizona, and accomplished a low approach to the runway. The pilot then returned to RYN for a full stop landing on runway 6R. He reported that during the landing roll, the left brake failed, and the airplane veered right and exited the runway. Subsequently, the airplane’s left canard struck a runway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the canard. The airplane came to rest about 20 ft off the right side of runway.


The airplane was secured for further examination. 

Monday, May 26, 2025

Boeing 737-890 (WL), N516AS, accident occurred on August 20, 2023, at Santa Ana-John Wayne International Airport (SNA/KSNA), Santa Ana, California















































Investigator In Charge (IIC): Hauf, Michael

Additional Participating Entities:

  • Rick Domingo; Alaska Airlines; Seattle, WA 
  • Nathan Williams; Boeing Commercial Airplanes 
  • Mitch Mitchell; FAA; DC 
  • Fred Baisch; AMFA 
  • Marc Henegar; ALPA 

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192903/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192903

http://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N516AS

Alaska Airlines

  • Location: Santa Ana, California 
  • Accident Number: DCA23FA417 
  • Date & Time: August 20, 2023, 23:15 Local 
  • Registration: N516AS 
  • Aircraft: Boeing 737-890 
  • Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
  • Defining Event: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) 
  • Injuries: 112 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 121: Air carrier - Scheduled

This accident occurred when the left main landing gear (MLG) of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737- 800 collapsed during landing. Postaccident examination revealed that the aft trunnion pin in the left MLG failed during landing due to a fatigue fracture. The fracture initiated from a small intergranular region below the external chromium electroplated layer. The fatigue crack, which had propagated to a depth of 0.144 inches, was large enough to cause the remaining material to fracture in tensile or upward-bending overstress during landing, resulting in the collapse of the left MLG.


Further examination of the aft trunnion pin revealed that the intergranular region where the fatigue crack initiated was located along an area with a darker visual contrast following temper etch and metallographic inspections. This region also showed an elevated reading from a Barkhausen noise inspection. The elevated readings and area of visual contrast were consistent with the area being exposed to higher temperatures becoming softer than the surrounding material. The heat exposure most likely occurred as part of the excessive grinding of the surface, performed during the maintenance overhaul of the pin that occurred on July 5, 2018, as part of the overhaul of the left MLG assembly. This area was subject to grinding to first remove the original chromium layer, and then a second grinding after the new chromium layer was applied to bring the trunnion pin into specified dimensions.


The over-tempered region and the surrounding material created an area of intergranular fracture within the material in the area where grinding had occurred. The investigation considered whether the formation of this area could have occurred during the baking and stress relief processes following aggressive grinding during the chromium removal step of the overhaul. However, after removing the chromium electroplating layer, the temper etch inspections did not detect any grinding burns. Because a temper etch inspection cannot be used after the chromium lectroplating layer was reapplied, the grinding burn likely occurred during machining after the new chromium layer electroplating process.


At the time of the left MLG assembly overhaul, the landing gear assembly had accumulated 11,116 landing cycles. The overhauled left MLG assembly was installed on the accident airplane on July 17, 2018. Afterward, the left MLG, including the trunnion pin, accumulated an additional 4,710 landing cycles.


A fatigue crack analysis performed on the aft trunnion pin fracture surface showed that the fatigue crack had been present for at least 797 landing cycles. Therefore, the crack was not present when the pin was overhauled in July 2018 but had likely developed later as a result of the grinding performed during the overhaul. Because most of the nondestructive inspection techniques used to detect damage to plated trunnion pins typically rely on identifying cracks, techniques such as magnetic particle inspection and fluorescent penetrant inspection would have been ineffective before crack initiation. However, results of this examination and previous NTSB investigations demonstrate that even relatively mild heat exposure from grinding and/or machining during overhaul can lead to cracking, which can lead to fatigue crack growth and failed landing gear components, as occurred in this accident.


  • Probable Cause: 
Maintenance personnel’s excessive grinding of the left main landing gear’s aft trunnion pin during machining, which imparted heat damage to the base metal and led to the fatigue cracking that caused the pin to fracture during landing.

Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster, N9471B, accident occurred on March 14, 2025, at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW/KDFW), Dallas, Texas

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Fox, Andrew

Additional Participating Entities:

  • Michael H. LePore; Federal Aviation Administration - North Texas FSDO; Irving, TX

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N9471B

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199859/pdf

  • Location: Dallas, TX 
  • Accident Number: CEN25LA122 
  • Date & Time: March 14, 2025, 07:38 Local 
  • Registration: N9471B
  • Aircraft: Cessna 208B 
  • Injuries: 1 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled
On March 14, 2025, about 0738 central daylight time, a Cessna 208B airplane, N9471B, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 positioning flight.

The pilot reported that while holding short of runway 17R a departing Spirit Airlines Airbus A321 airplane was cleared for takeoff on runway 17R. The pilot estimated that the departing Airbus A321 was 1,500 to 2,000 ft down the runway when the air traffic controller cleared her to line up and wait on runway 17R. She completed the pretakeoff checklist tasks before taxiing onto runway 17R. The pilot reported that the airplane’s wing flaps were at 10° due to the gusty wind condition and that she held the airplane’s control yoke to the right (left aileron down and right aileron up) to manage the right quartering headwind as the airplane taxied toward the runway 17R centerline on a 45° intercept.

The pilot reported that as the airplane approached the runway 17R centerline it encountered an “unexpected wind shear and wake turbulence” that caused the airplane to “skid to the left”. She was unable to regain directional control by reducing engine power and applying rudder and right aileron. The strong wind lifted the airplane’s right wing enough to allow the left wingtip to strike the ground, which resulted in an uncontrolled left swerve and a propeller strike. The pilot reported that the airplane pivoted 360° on the left wingtip before it came to rest upright on the airplane’s landing gear and aligned with the runway 17R centerline. The airplane operator reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing during the accident.

A postaccident review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control tower communications and ADS-B data was conducted to establish the sequence-of-events that led to the accident, as depicted in figure 1. At 0737:08, the DFW tower controller cleared Spirit Airlines flight 196, an Airbus A321, to line up and wait on runway 17R. At 1237:41, the tower controller transmitted the current surface wind was 170° at 18 knots, gusting to 27 knots. At 0737:49, the tower controller cleared the Airbus A321 for takeoff on runway 17R. At 0737:55, the tower controller issued a caution for wake turbulence and cleared the Cessna 208B to line up and wait on runway 17R.

Based on reported ground speed and the airplane ground track, at 0738:16, about 740 ft past runway 17R threshold, the Airbus A321 began a takeoff roll. About 0738:30, the Cessna 208B lost directional control as it approached runway 17R centerline about 85 ft past the runway threshold.


According to the FAA Aircraft Registry, the Airbus A321-231 was equipped with two International Aero Engines (IAW) V2533 A5 engines. According to Airbus technical document A321 Aircraft Characteristics - Airport and Maintenance Planning, an Airbus A321 equipped with IAE V2500 series engines set at maximum takeoff power has an exhaust danger area that extends 1,150 ft aft of each engine with no surface wind, as depicted in figure 2. Additionally, an engine exhaust velocity of 30 knots would extend to 575 ft aft of the engine exhaust nozzle with no surface wind. Similarly, without a surface wind, an engine exhaust velocity of 17 knots would extend to 990 ft aft the engine exhaust nozzle. A surface wind would affect the extent of the engine exhaust danger area and velocity profiles.