# NTSB CEN25LA361: Piper PA-30, N26RJ, Caro, MI, September 2, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 2, 2025, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Caro, MI - Coordinates: 43.458861, -83.445447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4589&lon=-83.4454&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2025 - 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): 200937 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA361 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200937/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200937 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA361 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to remove the tow bar before flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection; cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis After departure, the pilot noticed the landing gear position indicator light did not show that the landing gear was retracted and the circuit breaker was tripped. He cycled the circuit breaker a few times and it kept tripping. The pilot then diverted to an airport where he normally had maintenance performed on his airplane. While landing, the airplane veered sharply to the right and went through a ditch which resulted in substantial damage to the empennage. After the accident, it was discovered the pilot had forgotten to remove the tow bar he used to pull the airplane out of the hangar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26RJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26RJ), registered now, S/N 30-1886, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-1886 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 3785 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 2024 - Departed: KACB, Bellaire, MI - Destination: KCFS, Caro, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CFS, Tuscola Area, runway 06, 4,302 × 65 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 13, 2024; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,508.9 total, 501.9 in this make and model, 1,415.4 as pilot in command, 39.4 in the last 90 days, 22.9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 2 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KCFS - METAR: METAR KCFS 021755Z AUTO VRB02KT 10SM OVC055 24/11 A3008 RMK AO2 10247 20104= ## 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 20250902012639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250902012639A), Sep 2, 2025: Piper PA-30, Caro, MI, Substantial damage. The pilot was running late for a departure from bellaire mi to midstate airport in north carolina. After pulling his airplane out of the hangar for the flight,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200937. 81.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 80.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19316342&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA361%20-%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19316545&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA361%20-%20PHOTOS-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.