# NTSB CEN26LA032: Just Highlander, N622SC, Delta, CO, November 2, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: November 2, 2025, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Delta, CO
- Coordinates: 38.755833, -108.13805
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7558&lon=-108.1381&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201947
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA032
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201947/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA032

## Preliminary report

On November 2, 2025, about 1630 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur-built Just Highlander airplane, N622SC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Delta, Colorado. The flight instructor and student pilot were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was an introduction to tailwheel operations for the student pilot, who was also the airplane owner. The flight instructor stated that after about an hour of performing maneuvers, they were planning to return to the departure airport to practice landings. While maneuvering to enter the airport traffic pattern, the flight instructor noticed some engine roughness and diverted toward Westwinds Airport (D17), Delta, Colorado. The flight instructor stated that the engine instruments indicated normal readings, however the airplane was only producing partial power. The engine roughness continued, and the propeller stopped turning but the engine continued to operate with normal indications. The flight instructor noticed fluid running along the left side of the airplane and prepared for a forced landing on rough terrain. The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest inverted against a ravine wall. The airplane will be recovered to a secure location for future examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Henry Steven J JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056325W), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N622SC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N622SC), registered now, S/N JA501-12-16, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JUST HIGHLANDER
- Registry model: [Henry Steven J JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/henry-steven-j-just-acft-highlander) (registry code 056325W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Yamaha ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/yamaha-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 80000, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: JA501-12-16
- Year built: 2018
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Departed: AJZ, Delta, CO

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: KAJZ, 4 nm away
- METAR: KAJZ 022335Z AUTO 23006KT 10SM CLR 20/M05 A3023 RMK AO2 T01951053,M

## 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 20251102020199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251102020199A), Nov 2, 2025: Henry Steven J JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, Delta, CO, Substantial damage. On 11/02/2025, a student pilot and instructor were flying a just aircraft highlander JA501-12-16 bush plane with a registration number of [privacy data…

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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