Piper PA-23-250 Aztec F, N2345R, fatal accident occurred on October 17, 2025, near Condon, Montana

• Location: Condon, MT 
• Accident Number: WPR26LA020 
• Date & Time: October 17, 2025, 16:15 Local 
• Registration: N2345R 
• Aircraft: Piper PA-23-250 
• Injuries: 3 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201889/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N2345R

On October 17, 2025, about 1615 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250, N2345R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Condon, Montana. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to a report of preliminary air traffic control (ATC) services, at 1541, the pilot requested a climb to 14,000 ft mean sea level (msl) due to concerns about icing and was also advised of icing in the mid-teens by the controller. The pilot subsequently requested vectors toward lower terrain and then informed the controller that he was unable to maintain altitude before he declared an emergency, citing icing and an issue with the left engine. Salt Lake Center (ZLC) lost radar contact with the airplane at 1615. An airplane in the area attempted to relay communications to the accident airplane, but was unsuccessful. Another airplane advised ZLC that they were able to identify the accident airplane at 4,300 ft msl on ADS-B, northeast of Goat Mountain. Family members notified the Federal Aviation Administration when the flight did not arrive at its destination airport and an Alert Notice (ALNOT) was subsequently issued at 1629. 

Search and Rescue aircraft were deployed from Malmstrom Air Force Base, along with members of the Missoula County Search and Rescue, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and the Powell County Sheriff's Office. The accident site was located on October 18, 2025 in mountainous terrain at an elevation of 5,286 ft msl near Youngs Creek within the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

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

Jabiru J230-D, N768J, incident occurred on October 21, 2025, at Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH/KLYH), Lynchburg, Virginia

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this post will be corrected when the preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N768J

- History of Flight:
On October 21, 2025, at about 1300 local time, a privately-registered Jabiru J230-D, N768J, sustained minor damage when it was involved in an incident at Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH/KLYH), Lynchburg, Virginia. There were no injuries. The flight originated from the Hanover County Municipal Airport (KOFP), Richmond, Virginia, and was destined to KLYH.

The FAA reported; "Landed on runway 22 and veered into the grass on taxiway b3. Aircraft sustained damage to propeller and right main gear."

Beechcraft J35 Bonanza, N610KG, incident occurred on October 11, 2025, at Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB/KDAB), Daytona Beach, Florida

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this post will be corrected when the preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N610KG

- History of Flight:
On October 11, 2025, at about 1455 local time, a Beechcraft J35 Bonanza, N610KG, sustained minor damage when it was involved in an incident at Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB/KDAB), Daytona Beach, Florida. There were no injuries.

According to the FAA; "Reported an open door on takeoff and landed without incident. A post flight inspection revealed the emergency window was missing."

According to ADS-B data from the day of the event, at 1437 LT, the airplane was seen departing runway 34 followed by a right turn into the traffic pattern and an uneventful landing. At 1456 LT, the airplane was seen departing the same runway when it entered a climbing left hand turn and flew west towards Tampa Executive Airport (VDF), Tampa, Florida. The FAA reported the time of the incident as 1455.

Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300, N29GS, incident occurred on October 19, 2025, at Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA/KIDA), Idaho Falls, Idaho

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this post will be corrected when the preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N29GS

- History of Flight:
On October 19, 2025, at about 1244 local time, an Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 jet, N29GS, sustained minor damage when it was involved in an incident at Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA/KIDA), Idaho Falls, Idaho. There were no injuries. The airplane was registered to Air Cashmere LLC out of Granger, Indiana. The flight originated from the Kerrville Municipal Airport/Louis Schreiner Field (KERV), Kerrville, Texas, and was destined to an unknown location.

According to the FAA; "Declared an emergency due to hydraulic failure. Subsequently the aircraft sustained an engine failure and sustained minor damage on landing." ADS-B data show that the aircraft was cruising at 40,000 ft when it descended towards and landed on runway 21.

According to ADS-B tracking history, the airplane conducted one test flight out of KIDA on November 30, 2025, which was followed by a flight towards Driggs–Reed Memorial Airport (KDIJ), Driggs, Idaho.

Cirrus SR22, N1547C, incident occurred on November 19, 2025, at Santa Monica Airport (SMO/KSMO), Santa Monica, California

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this post will be corrected when the preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N1547C

- History of Flight:
On November 19, 2025, at about 1047 local time, a Cirrus SR22, N1547C, sustained unknown damage when it was involved in an incident at Santa Monica Airport (SMO/KSMO), Santa Monica, California. The pilot and passenger were not injured.

The FAA reported that; "Pilot did not get enough airspeed on departure and ran off the end of the runway then became disabled."

Runway 21 is asphalt/grooved 3500 x 150 ft. ADS-B data shows that the airplane used the entire runway for takeoff, and that the takeoff was aborted halfway down the runway at about 93 knots groundspeed.

Figure 1: ADS-B exchange data

Rutan Long-EZ, N82MT, accident occurred on November 19, 2025, near Beaufort, South Carolina

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this post will be corrected when the preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N82MT

- History of Flight:
On November 19, 2025, at about 1619 local time, a privately-registered Rutan Long-EZ, N82MT, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Beaufort, South Carolina. The sole pilot onboard was not injured. The flight originated from the Norfolk-Chesapeake Regional Airport (KCPK), Norfolk, Virginia, and was destined to an unknown location.

Preliminary ADS-B data tracked the airplane south for about 2h30m. Towards the end of the flight, the airplane was last seen descending through 300 ft northeast of the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort/Merritt Field (KNBC), Beaufort, South Carolina. The FAA reported that the airplane crashed for unknown reasons and became submerged in a marsh.

Piper PA-24-260 Comanche, N8566P, incident occurred on November 19, 2025, at Cape Cod Gateway Airport (HYA/KHYA), Hyannis, Massachusetts

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this post will be corrected when the preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N8566P

- History of Flight:
On November 19, 2025, at about 1000 local time, a Piper PA-24-260 Comanche, N8566P, sustained unknown damage when it was involved in a gearup landing at Cape Cod Gateway Airport (HYA/KHYA), Hyannis, Massachusetts. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK/KACK), Nantucket, MA, and was destined to KHYA.

The FAA reported that the airplane executed an intentional gear-up landing on runway 33 due to the landing gear failing to lock.