# NTSB DCA25LA174: Pyka Pelican, N939NP, Dixon, CA, March 28, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 28, 2025, 09:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Dixon, CA · per (revised) 6120 - Coordinates: 38.431806, -121.72608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4318&lon=-121.7261&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 199962 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199962/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199962 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA174 ## Probable cause The flight control system’s unanticipated transition to takeoff abort mode due to a software error in the autonomous flight control system, which resulted in a premature throttle reduction and hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Design (probable cause); cases with it: [Pyka PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md?model=0610173), [All aircraft, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Pyka PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=0610173), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) ## Analysis A Pyka Inc. unmanned aircraft system (model name Pelican, type: airplane) sustained substantial damage during a flight test at the manufacturer’s test site. There were no injuries. The airplane was operating with an FAA Certificate of Authorization No. 2025-WSA-562-SAC-REV1 and operating exemption No. 23028. According to the manufacturer’s website, the airplane is designed for agricultural spraying applications. It has 4 electric motors that each drive a two-bladed fixed-pitch propeller, and has a maximum gross weight of 1,320 lbs. Figure 1. Photo of the Pelican vehicle. (Source: Pyka Inc.) According to the operator, the purpose of the flight was to test landings. Following a normal takeoff in autonomous mode, approximately two seconds into the flight, the ground control station operator issued a land command. In response, the aircraft unexpectedly reduced throttle to idle and annunciated that it had entered a takeoff abort mode. The aircraft then descended and landed abruptly on the dirt runway. The impact resulted in partial separation of the forward fuselage at the wing leading edge and buckling of the aft fuselage on the right side beneath the wing trailing edge. After the accident, the operator discovered an error in the autonomous software that resulted in the unintended behavior of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N939NP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N939NP), registered now, S/N 16056PS0030, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PYKA INC PELICAN - Registry model: [Pyka PELICAN](https://openairdocs.org/model/pyka-pelican) (registry code 0610173) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, unmanned - Serial number: 16056PS0030 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 251 - Engines: Sunray Motors DT13855-42P-60KV DC electric; Sunray Motors DT13855-42P-60KV DC electric; Sunray Motors DT13855-42P-60KV DC electric; Sunray Motors DT13855-42P-60KV DC electric - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Pyka Inc - Registered owner: Pyka Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 28, 2025 - Airport: PVT, Pvt, runway 18, 3,000 × 20 ft, dirt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 19, 2025; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 432 total, 252 in this make and model, 303 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KEDU, 7 nm away - METAR: METAR KEDU 281855Z AUTO 23009KT 10SM SCT030 BKN039 OVC050 16/08 A3006 RMK AO1= ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199962. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19449857&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01_6120_DCA25LA174_print_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Additional information provided by operator (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19428023&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR_additional_info-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.