# NTSB ERA25LA290: Gary W Lewinski Sonex, N67BG, Tellico Plains, TN, August 5, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: August 5, 2025, 11:31 local (15:31 UTC) - Place: Tellico Plains, TN · Exact Location based on Meta Data Fm FAA iPhone 12 - Coordinates: 35.383647, -84.302483 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3836&lon=-84.3025&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200719 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA290 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200719/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA290 ## Preliminary report On August 5, 2025, about 1131 eastern daylight time, a Lewinski Sonex, N67BG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tellico Plains, Tennessee. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14?Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that in anticipation of an intended buyer coming to take possession of the airplane in several days, he washed it then performed several taxi tests. During one taxi run he noted a violent shake that stopped when he applied aft control input. He attributed the issue to be related to the nose wheel bearing. He then elected to fly once around the traffic pattern and after takeoff, with one notch of flaps extended, reported the airplane pulled suddenly to the left which he could not correct. Approaching trees ahead, he pulled aft on the control yoke and believed the airplane stalled. The airplane descended uncontrolled and came to rest in trees about 10 to 12 ft above ground level. A fire began in the engine compartment and with some difficulty he exited the cockpit and jumped to the ground. He reported no issues with the engine at any time during the flight. The pilot further stated that there was no failure or malfunction of the flight controls during his preflight check, or as part of a check before departure. Because he was wearing knee length cotton shorts, he sustained second-degree burns on the lower portion of one of his legs and first-degree burns on the lower portion of his other leg. The postcrash fire extensively damaged the cockpit area of the wreckage, which was recovered for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Gary W Lewinski SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=05633OE), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Gary W Lewinski SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=05633OE), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Gary W Lewinski SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05633OE), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Gary W Lewinski SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05633OE), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Gary W Lewinski SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=05633OE), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67BG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67BG), registered now, S/N 1599, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GARY W LEWINSKI SONEX (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Gary W Lewinski SONEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/gary-w-lewinski-sonex) (registry code 05633OE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Aerovee 2.1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerovee-2-1) (registry code 01402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1599 - Year built: 2015 - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Airport: 85TN, Tellico Plains Muni, runway 5, 3,000 × 35 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KRHP, 24 nm away - METAR: KRHP 051533Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN038 BKN044 OVC060 24/18 A3026 RMK AO2 T02370179 ## 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 20250805020429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250805020429A), Aug 5, 2025: Gary W Lewinski SONEX, Tellico Plains, TN, Substantial damage. Aircraft took off out of Tellico Plains Municipal Airport (85TN) on 8/5/25. After rotate, aircraft pulled to the left suddenly and was unable to be corrected.… 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.