# Accident 20250916015049A: Lenhart Victor CHALLENGER II, Thompsonville, MI, September 16, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 16, 2025, 16:28 local time
- Place: Thompsonville, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.5178° N, 85.9775° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5178&lon=-85.9775&mi=10
- Aircraft: N65176, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65176) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Lenhart Victor CHALLENGER II (registry code 05676NC, https://openairdocs.org/model/lenhart-victor-challenger-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LENHART VICTOR CHALLENGER II
- Reported engine: BOMBARDIER ROTAX
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 8,500 total, 1 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA383) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250916015049A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOT WAS INTERESTED IN BUYING THE CHALLENGER II AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE. PRIOR TO TAKEOFF HE PERFORMED A PRE-BUY INSPECTION, ENGINE RUN UP AND PERFORMED A HIGH-SPEED TAXI.  AFTER LIFTOFF FROM AIRPORT 7Y2, RUNWAY 27, THE AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO DRIFT LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE USED THE CONTROLS TO CORRECT THE LEFT DRIFT AND THE AIRPLANE FLEW BACK OVER THE RUNWAY AND BRIEFLY SETTLED.  DURING THE CLIMB OUT, APPROXIMATELY 100FT AGL, THE AIRPLANE AGAIN BEGAN AN "UNCOMMANDED" LEFT TURN. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A TREE ABOUT 200 YARDS LEFT OF THE RUNWAY, COMING TO REST INVERTED.   THE ENGINE MAINTAINED NORMAL POWER THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE IS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FROM THE IMPACT WITH THE TREE AND GROUND. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.

WEATHER REPORTED AT NEARBY AIRPORT KCAD WAS VMC WITH WINDS VARIABLE AT 5MPH.

THE FAA ON-SITE EXAMINATION DID NOT FIND ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS/SEPARATIONS TO THE FLIGHT CONTROLS (AILERONS, ELEVATORS, AND RUDDER). THE ONLY FLIGHT CONTROL ANOMALY WAS THE RUDDER CABLES WERE SLACK DUE TO IMPACT-RELATED DAMAGE ON THE NOSE AND RUDDER PEDALS.  AN ADDITIONAL OBSERVATION WAS THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A STATIONARY TRIM TAB ON THE ELEVATOR OR RUDDER.  THE CURRENT OWNER DID STATE THAT THE AIRPLANE REQUIRED CONSTANT RIGHT RUDDER INPUT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT FLIGHT PATH.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN25LA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA383), Sep 16, 2025: Quad City Challenger (N65176), Crystal Mountain, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during initial climb.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.