# NTSB CEN25LA331: Elmwood Christavia, N383JA, South Saint Paul, MN, August 20, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 20, 2025, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: South Saint Paul, MN
- Coordinates: 44.857251, -93.033134
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8573&lon=-93.0331&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- 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: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA331
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200831/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200831
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA331

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to land the airplane on a non-approved landing surface.

## 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: [Allington Jeremy W CHRISTAVIA MK4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05638JJ), [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: [Allington Jeremy W CHRISTAVIA MK4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05638JJ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Allington Jeremy W CHRISTAVIA MK4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=05638JJ), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Allington Jeremy W CHRISTAVIA MK4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05638JJ), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Allington Jeremy W CHRISTAVIA MK4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05638JJ), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while rolling out on the grass between the runway and taxiway, the airplane began to slowly pitch forward until it nosed over. The pilot attempted to correct with full back pressure on the yoke; however, the airplane did not respond to the control input. The pilot reported that he touched the brakes during the roll out. The airplane came to rest inverted which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, left wing, and lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to land the airplane on a non-approved landing surface between the runway and taxiway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N383JA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N383JA), registered now, S/N JA 001, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ELMWOOD CHRISTAVIA (MK4)
- Registry model: [Allington Jeremy W CHRISTAVIA MK4](https://openairdocs.org/model/allington-jeremy-w-christavia-mk4) (registry code 05638JJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-C1D6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-c1d6) (registry code 41834, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: JA 001
- Year built: 2019
- Airframe hours: 122
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1D6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 25, 2020
- Departed: Riverfalls, WI
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: SGS, Richard E Fleming Field
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 210 total, 122 in this make and model, 169 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observed at: KSGS
- METAR: KSGS 201635Z AUTO 05005KT 10SM BKN027 BKN032 OVC038 27/19 A3016 RMK AO2 T02660185=

## 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 20250820011969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250820011969A), Aug 20, 2025: Allington Jeremy W CHRISTAVIA MK4, South Saint Pau, MN, Substantial damage. The PIC attempted to land his experimental amateur-built aircraft on the grass between the runway and taxiway, not an approved runway. The aircraft touched…

## 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=200831. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19655214&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=%5BUntitled%5D_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Inspector statement mor (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19656181&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspector%20MOR-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19613698&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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