# NTSB CEN25LA172: Golden Circle Air T-Bird, N7192M, Dallas Center, IA, May 5, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 4, 2025, 19:15 local (May 5, 2025, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Dallas Center, IA · Recently planted cornfield - Coordinates: 41.679432, -94.020231 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6794&lon=-94.0202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 9, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Des Moines FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200121 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA172 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200121/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200121 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA172 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate roll control of the light sport airplane while on final approach to the airstrip with a crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [T Bird T1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=05902XL), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [T Bird T1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05902XL), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [T Bird T1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05902XL), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [T Bird T1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05902XL), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [T Bird T1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05902XL), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [T Bird T1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902XL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Other: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [T Bird T1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=05902XL), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting his first flight after he purchased and reassembled the light sport airplane. He intended to fly to a nearby grass airstrip to practice touch-and-go landings. He reported that the wind was calm during the takeoff and cruise portions of the flight. During final approach to the intended airstrip, about 30 ft above the ground and 200 ft short of the airstrip, a wind gust from the right caused the airplane to roll left. The pilot increased engine power and attempted to level the airplane’s wings, but the left wing impacted the ground and the airplane spun to stop short of the runway. The airplane’s aluminum tube fuselage structure and left wing sustained substantial damage during the ground impact. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the light sport airplane. Based on the reported wind direction and speed at an airport located about 11 nautical miles from the accident site, there was likely a direct right crosswind of about 8 knots while the airplane was on final approach to the airstrip. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7192M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7192M-2025-06-11), registration cancelled 2025-06-11, S/N 1107541, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Golden Circle Air T-Bird (I) - Registry model: [T Bird T1](https://openairdocs.org/model/t-bird-t1) (registry code 05902XL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-series) (registry code 55564, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1107541 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 320 - Engines: Rotax 503 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 6, 2025, 1 hours before - Departed: 39IA, Dallas Center, IA - Destination: 39IA, Dallas Center, IA - Airport: 39IA, Husband Field Airport, runway 35, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review November 6, 2024; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 500 total, 1 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KPRO, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KPRO 050015Z AUTO 07008KT 10SM CLR 22/05 A2995 RMK AO2 T02170048= ## 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 20250504004759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250504004759A), May 4, 2025: T Bird T1, Dallas Center, IA, Substantial damage. During initial approach to land the left wing tip impacted the ground causing the aircraft to cartwheel uncontrollably, coming to rest in a corn field. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200121. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19593598&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20NTSB_Form_6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Meteorological data (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19593556&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Meteorological%20Data-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 979 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19593426&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Investigation%20Photographs-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.