# NTSB CEN25LA251: Scott Vincin Just Acft Highlander, N970SV, Mancos, CO, July 13, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 13, 2025, 08:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Mancos, CO
- Coordinates: 37.35, -108.21866 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3500&lon=-108.2187&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 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): 200534
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA251
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200534/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA251

## Probable cause

The airplane’s reduced climb performance during takeoff in mountainous terrain, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to climb and impact with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Scott Vincin JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=05642XW), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Scott Vincin JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05642XW), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: temperature inversion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Scott Vincin JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031035/cases.md?model=05642XW), [All aircraft, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031035/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Scott Vincin JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=05642XW), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Scott Vincin JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05642XW), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Scott Vincin JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05642XW), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he departed from a down sloping, grass airstrip in mountainous terrain. About 20 to 40 ft above the ground after takeoff, the airplane was unable to climb and descended to the ground, which resulted in the right wing impacting the ground. The airplane then veered right, nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that he operated the airplane from this strip in similar conditions without issue. He thought there might have been a downdraft or temperature inversion that reduced the airplane’s climb performance.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N970SV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N970SV-2025-08-26), registration cancelled 2025-08-26, S/N JA720-04-24, built 2025 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCOTT VINCIN JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER
- Registry model: [Scott Vincin JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/scott-vincin-just-acft-highlander) (registry code 05642XW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 914ULS](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914uls) (registry code 55552, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: JA720-04-24
- Year built: 2024
- Airframe hours: 78
- Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, February 27, 2025
- Departed: PVT, Mancos, CO
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: Private, runway 36, 1,150 × 60 ft, dirt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; airline transport, private, commercial, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 13, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,823 total, 38.3 in this make and model, 6,500 as pilot in command, 38.3 in the last 90 days, 20.4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 2 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F

## 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 20250713015519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250713015519A), Jul 13, 2025: Just Aircraft Highlander JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, Mancos, CO, Substantial damage. On 07/13/2025, an ATP certificated pilot made a takeoff from a private airstrip 5 NM east of Mancos, Colorado. The pilot had made previous takeoffs and…

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.

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