# NTSB CEN25LA062: Capella FW1C50, N556CF, Ozark, MO, December 15, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 15, 2024, 11:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Ozark, MO - Coordinates: 36.96379, -93.170164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9638&lon=-93.1702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 199442 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199442/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199442 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA062 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during high-speed taxi. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Capella FW1C50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05902T1), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Capella FW1C50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05902T1), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Capella FW1C50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05902T1), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Capella FW1C50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05902T1), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was unfamiliar with the single seat amateur-built airplane and his intent was to perform high-speed taxi testing of the airplane. He stated that he made a high-speed taxi to the south on runway 18 and then proceeded to make another high-speed taxi in the opposite direction on runway 36. During the high-speed taxi on runway 36, wind from the southeast picked up the left wing, the airplane inadvertently became airborne, and the airplane drifted to the right. The airplane was heading toward trees and the pilot applied full throttle to clear the trees but was unable to maintain control of the airplane. The airplane struck the ground, and the nose and right main landing gear separated. The right wing incurred substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N556CF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N556CF), registered now, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CAPELLA AIRCRAFT CORP FW1C50 - Registry model: [Capella FW1C50](https://openairdocs.org/model/capella-fw1c50) (registry code 05902T1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 222 - Engines: Rotax 503 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 10, 2024 - Airport: 18MO, Gimlin, runway 18/36, 3,005 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 6, 2023; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 95 total, 0 in this make and model, 13 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KSGF, 20 nm away - METAR: METAR KSGF 151752Z 15015KT 10SM CLR 14/03 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP200 T01390028 10139 20006 58024 $= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20241215021889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241215021889A), Dec 15, 2024: Capella Aircraft Corp FW1C50, Ozark, MO, Destroyed. PIC was performing a fast taxi with the intention of conducting a check of the airspeed indicator approximately 40 knots. A gust of wind made the aircraft take… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199442. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18848254&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18848948&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.