# NTSB ERA25LA219: Fred L Wellman CH 750 Cruzer, N75FW, Medina, OH, June 5, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 5, 2025, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Medina, OH - Coordinates: 41.131642, -81.766382 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1316&lon=-81.7664&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 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): 200271 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200271/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200271 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA219 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fred L Wellman CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056422Z), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Fred L Wellman CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=056422Z), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Fred L Wellman CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056422Z), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Fred L Wellman CH 750 CRUZER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056422Z), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that this flight was conducted as part of phase 1 flight testing of the newly constructed experimental amateur-built airplane. The pilot stated that he had watched a video from the airplane kit manufacturer on “factory takeoff,” which suggested keeping the control stick slightly aft of neutral and applying partial power. During the accident takeoff, he tried the method described by the video and when the airplane lifted off, it was too slow. About 5ft above ground level, the airplane stalled, and the left wing dropped. The airplane impacted to the left of the runway and continued into a ditch and an area of brush, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75FW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75FW), registered now, S/N C75-11088, built 2025 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FRED L WELLMAN CH 750 CRUZER - Registry model: [Fred L Wellman CH 750 CRUZER](https://openairdocs.org/model/fred-l-wellman-ch-750-cruzer) (registry code 056422Z) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300a) (registry code 34804, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: C75-11088 - Year built: 2025 - Airframe hours: 2.5 - Engines: Jabiru 3300A 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 1, 2025, 2.5 hours before - Airport: 1G5, Medina Muni, runway 27, 3,556 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 11, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 960 total, 6 in this make and model, 849 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: AKR, 15 nm away - METAR: KAKR 051254Z AUTO 19006KT 8SM CLR 23/17 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP171 T02280172 ## 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 20250605005669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250605005669A), Jun 5, 2025: Fred L Wellman CH 750 CRUZER, Medina, OH, Substantial damage. The aircraft was newly built, second flight. Pilot watched a zenith video on factory method for takeoff. It was sugested to pull stick slightly aft of neutral… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200271. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18907261&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20signed%20and%20filled%20out_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement to FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18907824&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wellman%20Statement%20-23_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 546 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18908013&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ERA25LA219-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� kit manufacturer video (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19543286&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Manufacturer%20Video-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.