# NTSB ERA25LA197: Arlie L Raber III Challenger 1, N59BR, Crestview, FL, May 4, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 4, 2025, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Crestview, FL · Exact location is pending - Coordinates: 30.76029, -86.570289 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7603&lon=-86.5703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200130 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200130/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200130 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA197 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to take off despite having problems controlling the airplane due to his physical stature. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Physical characteristic: size](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011010): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Arlie L Raber III CHALLENGER 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011010/cases.md?model=05639YP), [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Arlie L Raber III CHALLENGER 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05639YP), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Arlie L Raber III CHALLENGER 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=05639YP), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/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); cases with it: [Arlie L Raber III CHALLENGER 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05639YP), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Arlie L Raber III CHALLENGER 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05639YP), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Arlie L Raber III CHALLENGER 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05639YP), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was having difficulty controlling the airplane’s rudder pedals due to his physical stature. After several taxi attempts up and down the runway, he elected to take off for a short flight. After becoming airborne, the pilot began to have yaw controllability problems. He attempted to land, but was unable to control the airplane’s movements effectively, as his knees were contacting the instrument panel, and his feet were wedged behind the rudder pedals. The airplane continued to fly over terrain about 6 feet above ground level. With trees approaching, the pilot pushed the nose of the airplane down resulting in a hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward portion of the fuselage and the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59BR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N59BR), registered now, S/N 0501-CW-0756, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ARLIE L RABER III CHALLENGER 1 - Registry model: [Arlie L Raber III CHALLENGER 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/arlie-l-raber-iii-challenger-1) (registry code 05639YP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-series) (registry code 55564, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0501-CW-0756 - Year built: 2021 - Airframe hours: 53 - Engines: ROTAX 503 SERIES 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FD93, Yellow River Airstrip - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: single; restraint: none ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: CEW, 3 nm away - METAR: KCEW 041953Z AUTO 10SM CLR 26/08 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP120 T02560078 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20250504004659I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250504004659I), May 4, 2025: Arlie L Raber III CHALLENGER 1, Holt, FL, Minor damage. Pilot departed but found the seat too close to instrument panel. Pilot attempted to adjust seat and lost control of aircraft. Aircraft impacted ground in woody… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200130. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18806419&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA197%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 269 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18806648&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA197%20Photo%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. --- 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.