# NTSB CEN26LA180: Just JA-30, N422T, Hartville, MO, April 26, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 25, 2026, 19:30 local (Apr 26, 2026, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Hartville, MO · FAA accident map - Coordinates: 37.286015, -92.617298 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2860&lon=-92.6173&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 15, 2026 - 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): 202946 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202946/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202946 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA180 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line after takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thomas W Pastusak JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05634ZM), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Thomas W Pastusak JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05634ZM), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Thomas W Pastusak JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05634ZM), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Thomas W Pastusak JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05634ZM), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had just departed in the tailwheel equipped STOL (short takeoff and landing) airplane from his private rural grass airstrip about 25 minutes before sunset. The airplane collided with a power line about 500 yards south of the runway, impacted terrain, and came to rest inverted. A postimpact fire consumed a majority of the airplane. A witness stated that the airplane was flying normally before the power line collision. Aerial marker balls were not installed on the power line, nor were they required to be. The pilot stated that he did not remember the accident sequence due to his serious injuries, but before the accident, the wind was about 4 mph from the south and the density altitude was high. Prior to the accident flight, he completed multiple flights and landings in the airplane. Since this grass airstrip was on his property, he was aware of the power lines and frequently flew over them during takeoff and landing. The reason for the collision with the power line could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N422T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N422T), registered now, S/N JA373-04-14, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Just Aircraft JA-30 (SuperSTOL) - Registry model: [Thomas W Pastusak JA30 SUPERSTOL](https://openairdocs.org/model/thomas-w-pastusak-ja30-superstol) (registry code 05634ZM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA373-04-14 - Year built: 2016 - Engines: Rotax Aircraft Engines 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: pvt, runway 18/36, 1,100 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 16 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.71 inHg - Observed at: KSGF, 41 nm away - METAR: SPECI KSGF 270043Z 16016G24KT 10SM VCTS FEW050 23/17 A2971 RMK AO2 PK WND 14027/2354 LTG DSNT W AND NW T02330167 ## 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 20260425013019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260425013019A), Apr 25, 2026: Thomas W Pastusak JA30 SUPERSTOL, Hartville, MO, Destroyed. The pilot stated that he did not remember the accident or what led to the airplane hitting the power lines. He mentioned he might have lost situational… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202946. 4.9 MB in all. - Memorandum for record - telephone interview, pilot (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20570015&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20-%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - accident information (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20570670&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20-%20Accident%20Information-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 7 pages, 6 photos, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20570714&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.