Murphy Moose, N250MK, fatal accident occurred on June 23, 2025, near Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ/KMTJ), Montrose, Colorado

• Location: Montrose, CO
• Accident Number: CEN25FA216
• Date & Time: June 23, 2025, 10:21 Local
• Registration: N250MK
• Aircraft: Murphy Aircraft Manufacturing Limited Moose
• Injuries: 2 Fatal
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Ferry

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N250MK

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200356/pdf

On June 23, 2025, about 1021 mountain daylight time, a Murphy Aircraft Manufacturing Limited Moose airplane, N250MK, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Montrose, Colorado. The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 ferry flight.

The pilot had recently purchased the four-seat airplane, and the purpose of the cross-country flight was to transport the airplane to his home base at Buckingham Field Airport (FL59), Fort Myers, Florida. A Special Flight Permit, signed by a Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR-T), was signed for the airplane to fly from Westwinds Airport (D17), Delta, Colorado, to FL59.

On the day of the accident, the airplane departed from D17, and flew to Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ), Montrose, Colorado, where the airplane was fueled with 100 LL fuel.

According to a witness, who was on the ramp at MTJ, he observed the airplane depart from runway 31. He observed a nose-up attitude during the takeoff, and it seemed that the airplane was not climbing and was losing altitude. The witness was unable to hear the engine noise emitted from the airplane due to the environmental noise at the airport.

Another witness, who was located outside in a residential area near the accident site, observed the airplane after it departed from runway 31. The airplane turned and flew in a northerly direction and the witness estimated the airplane was traveling about 50 mph and was about 150 ft above ground level. The airplane then turned east, continued to lose altitude, and impacted into bluffs behind a house. The witness did not hear any abnormal engine noises, nor did he observe any smoke or fire emitting from the airplane while it was inflight.

The left wing of the airplane impacted an elevated dirt driveway, and the airplane came to rest behind a home. A postimpact fire ensued and the airplane was destroyed by the fire. The wreckage was recovered from the accident site, and it was transported to a secure location for future examination. A GoPro HERO13 camera and a Garmin D2 Mach 1 Pro watch were found in the wreckage and were transported to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory.

The airplane was built from a kit in 2008. The kit manufacturer advertises the airframe as a “distant cousin” of the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver series airplanes. The airplane was equipped with a Vedeneyev M14P radial engine (360 horsepower) and a three-blade controllable pitch wood MT Propeller MTV-9-K-C/CL260-29. The airplane was also equipped with Montana Float Company 3500 Series amphibious floats.

The private pilot held ratings for airplane single engine land and sea. The airline transport certificated passenger held ratings for airplane single and multi-engine land, in addition to commercial pilot privileges for airplane single engine sea. The passenger, who was actively employed as a commercial airline pilot, held type ratings for the Boeing 757 series, the Boeing 767 series, and the Douglas DC-8 series. He also held a flight instructor certificate and an airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate.

The estimated density altitude for MTJ, near the time of the accident, was about 7,250 ft.

Pitts S-2B Special, N79AV, fatal accident occurred on June 20, 2025, near Broadway, North Carolina

• Location: Broadway, NC 
• Accident Number: ERA25FA231 
• Date & Time: June 20, 2025, 09:00 Local 
• Registration: N79AV 
• Aircraft: Pitts S2 
• Injuries: 2 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal 

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N79AV

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200356/pdf

On June 20, 2025, at 0900 eastern daylight time, a Pitts Aerobatics S-2B, N79AV, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Broadway, North Carolina. The private pilot and the commercial pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerobatic flight.

According to preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed the Raleigh Executive Jetport (TTA), Sanford, North Carolina, at 0853. Immediately after departure, the airplane made a left turn to the southwest, followed by a left turn to head southeast. The airplane continued to climb until it reached an altitude of about 4,100 ft mean sea level (msl), and the airplane then turned toward the east. At 0859, the ADS-B data revealed the airplane made a tight, left 360° turn and then continued on its previous course. About 1 minute later, the airplane began a left turn and a steep descent. The last ADSB datapoint reported the airplane was at 650 ft msl and was approximately 50 ft to the east of the initial impact point.

According to witnesses who observed the accident, the airplane was spinning in a nose-down attitude before it impacted terrain. Multiple witnesses also reported that they could hear the engine running the entire duration of flight. A surveillance video captured the accident; however, the airplane was only partially in view for one frame of the video prior to impact. The video showed the airplane in a steep, nose down, attitude before it impacted terrain and a postcrash fire ensued.

The initial impact point was identified as a small crater in the ground between two buildings. The two bladed, constant speed propeller was found in the impact crater. The crater contained two slash marks with paint transfer that was consistent with the propeller blade paint color. One propeller blade displayed aft bending deformation, chordwise scratches, and polishing of the cambered side. The other propeller blade was undamaged and displayed chordwise scratches near the blade root.

The main wreckage was located 21 ft from the initial impact crater. The airframe was mostly consumed by a post-impact fire; however, the steel tubular structure and flight control push/pull tubes and cables remained. The airframe and engine displayed impact damage signatures, with most of the impact damage occurring to the forward portion of the airplane. All the airplane’s major components were located at the accident site.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Mooney M20F, N95735, fatal accident occurred on June 19, 2025, near Beverly Regional Airport (BVY/KBVY), Beverly, Massachusetts

• Location: Beverly, MA 
• Accident Number: ERA25FA230 
• Date & Time: June 19, 2025, 08:46 Local 
• Registration: N9573M 
• Aircraft: Mooney M20F 
• Injuries: 2 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200355/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumberTxt=N9573M

On June 19, 2025, at 0846 eastern daylight time, N95735, a Mooney M20F, was involved in an accident near Beverly, Massachusetts. The commercial pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

A preliminary review of air traffic control communications and airport security camera video revealed the airplane departed runway 16 at the Beverly Municipal Airport (BVY), Beverly, Massachusetts, at 0846. Shortly after the airplane became airborne, the engine began to backfire and brown smoke was observed trailing under the belly of the airplane. The pilot made a garbled call over the airport’s air traffic control tower frequency, and a controller cleared the pilot to land on any runway. The airplane initially made a right bank toward runway 27, before it banked left and descended from view behind trees. The engine continued to run rough, but engine RPM could still be heard as the airplane disappeared from view. The last radar return received on the airplane was at 0846:55. At that time, the airplane was 217 ft mean sea level (110 ft above ground level (agl)), at a ground speed of 65 knots on an easterly heading.

A witness, who was a flight instructor at BVY, watched the airplane depart. He said there was a “significant reduction in power” when the plane was 150 ft agl and approximately halfway down the 5,001-ft-long runway. He said, “A few seconds later it seemed as though the plane got power back partially. The pilot initiated a left turn to the east (in what appeared to be an attempt to turn around or land on the intersecting runway 9). While turning it sounded as though there was another significant reduction in power. The plane began to descend with its wings level eventually falling in what appeared to be a stalled state behind the tree line to the crash site. In my estimation, the plane never appeared to get higher than 200’ agl.”

The airplane impacted a grass berm adjacent to a two-lane road with the left wing, then crossed the road and impacted a light pole where it came to rest perpendicular to the road. There was no postimpact fire.

The airplane wreckage was recovered and taken to a secure facility for further examination.

Cessna 182J Skylane, N3463F, accident occurred on May 31, 2025, near Kooskia Municipal Airport (S82), Kooskia, Idaho

• Location: Kooskia, ID
• Accident Number: WPR25LA167
• Date & Time: May 31, 2025, 09:30 Local
• Registration: N3463F
• Aircraft: Cessna 182J
• Injuries: 1 Serious
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=3463F

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200254/pdf

On May 31, 2025, about 0930 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182J, N3463F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Kooskia, Idaho. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

The pilot stated that on the morning of the accident, she departed from Moose Creek airstrip about 0900, with a planned route involving a climb through City Canyon toward Kooskia and Kamiah, intending thereafter to head north to Sandpoint. During a gradual climb out of the canyon at around 4,500 feet msl, the pilot heard a "pop," and the engine began shaking. She initiated troubleshooting procedures, which included adding carburetor heat, verifying the primer was locked, and enriching the fuel mixture.

With the engine continuing to shake and operating at partial power, the pilot configured the airplane for best glide speed and descended toward Kooskia. During this descent, she noted smoke appearing in front of the windscreen and received an engine monitor warning message indicating a "bad probe.” The engine monitor additionally indicated that the No. 2 cylinder was not producing power by the absence of a cylinder head temperature reading.

While attempting to land at the Kooskia airport, the airplane was too fast as it passed over the runway. The pilot observed large trees ahead, prompting her to briefly apply power to climb over them. Immediately thereafter, she encountered additional obstacles, including power lines, trees, and farm structures. With limited engine performance and the potential of stalling if she maneuvered back to the runway, she opted to land straight ahead in an open pasture. The airplane touched down and the left wing struck a tree, resulting in it rotating 90 degrees, and the engine impacting another tree.

The wreckage was recovered to a secured facility for a future examination. 

Van's RV-7A, N783RV, accident occurred on June 13, 2025, near Interlachen, Florida

• Location: Interlachen, FL 
• Accident Number: ERA25LA234 
• Date & Time: June 13, 2025, 13:51 Local 
• Registration: N783RV 
• Aircraft: STEVEN SCOTT GRASLEY RV-7A 
• Injuries: 1 Minor 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumberTxt=783RV

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200359/pdf

On June 13, 2025, about 15:31 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur built RV-7A, N783RV, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Interlachen, Florida. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, the airplane was recently painted, and an annual inspection was completed. The purpose of the flight was to return the airplane from the maintenance facility located at Northeast Alabama Airport (GAD) in Gadsden, Alabama to Melrose Landing Airpark (FD22), Melrose, Florida. On the downwind leg prior to landing at FD-22, he pulled the engine power back to 1,200 rpm and noted that he had 25 gallons of fuel remaining. He then entered a left base and noted that he needed additional power; however, the engine did not respond to power inputs, and the engine ultimately lost all power. He attempted to restart the engine, but he was unable to, and he was forced to make a landing at the edge of a pond.

A postaccident inspection by an FAA inspector revealed about 14 gallons of fuel in each fuel tank and the engine contained about 5 quarts of oil.

The wreckage was retained for further examination. 

Robinson R66 Turbine, N633AF, accident occurred on June 12, 2025, at Destin Executive Airport (DSI/KDTS), Valparaiso, Florida

• Location: Valparaiso, FL
• Accident Number: ERA25LA229 
• Date & Time: June 12, 2025, 18:50 Local 
• Registration: N633AF 
• Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66 
• Injuries: 2 Minor, 1 None 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Aerial observation

https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumberTxt=N633AF

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200323/pdf

On June 12, 2025, about 1850 eastern daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R66, N633AF, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Valparaiso, Florida. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries, and a second passenger was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 136 air tour flight.

The pilot stated that the accident flight was the fourth air tour flight of the day. After takeoff and during the transition to flight, about 15 ft above the ground, he heard a “pop,” and the helicopter made a hard right nosedive to the ground. He applied left cyclic, but nothing happened.

The helicopter impacted the ground on its right side and shattered the windshield. The main rotor blades fractured into several pieces. The tail rotor and tail boom fractured off the helicopter and were located about 25 ft behind the main wreckage.

During examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a representative from the helicopter manufacturer, they found that a bolt from the cyclic servo had backed out and fallen off the connecting rod. The bolt was located inside the wreckage. Other bolts were found to be only hand tight. 

Yakovlev Yak-50, N150YK, accident occurred on June 7, 2025, at Hayward Executive Airport (HWD/KHWD), Hayward, California

• Location: Hayward, CA 
• Accident Number: WPR25LA171 
• Date & Time: June 7, 2025, 12:52 Local 
• Registration: N150YK 
• Aircraft: Yakovlev YAK-50 
• Injuries: 1 Minor
•  Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200291/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N150YK

 On June 7, 2025, about 1252 Pacific daylight time, a Yakovlev YAK-50, N150YK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hayward, California. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that this was the first flight after the airplane completed an annual inspection. He topped off the fuel tank with about 41 gallons fuel and reported all preflight and engine runup checks were with the operating range. Once cleared for takeoff, the pilot increased engine power and visually checked the instruments, seeing all normal indications. As The airplane ascended, he raised the landing gear, he saw that the propeller was indicating 100% power. The airplane continued to accelerate normally for about 5 to 6 seconds. While about 100 ft above the runway and about 100 knots airspeed, the engine began to run rough. The pilot declared an emergency and the tower controller cleared him to land on any runway. Despite not making any changes to the throttle or propeller, the engine power had degraded to about 80%. The pilot elected to make 180° turn and land on the runway in the opposite direction. While about 90° through the turn, and about 30 ft above ground level, he lowered the landing gear. At that time the engine lost total power. Unable to maintain altitude the pilot leveled the wings and made a forced landing on a grass field. During the landing roll, one of the main landing gear separated and the airplane impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to both wings.

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