# NTSB ERA25LA303: Centrair 101A, N99KG, Springfield, VT, August 16, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 16, 2025, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Springfield, VT - Coordinates: 43.345403, -72.514668 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3454&lon=-72.5147&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: Completed, report November 20, 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): 200802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA303 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200802/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200802 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA303 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to assemble the glider’s elevator control before takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Centrair 101A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=1990102), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Flight control system: elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not installed/available (probable cause); cases with it: [Centrair 101A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md?model=1990102), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Centrair 101A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=1990102), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Centrair 101A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=1990102), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Centrair 101A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1990102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During his preflight assembly of the glider, the pilot got distracted and failed to connect the elevator control. During the subsequent takeoff, once the glider became airborne, the pilot realized there was no elevator control and immediately released himself from the tow airplane. The glider nosed down and impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99KG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99KG), registered now, S/N 101A0225 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CENTRAIR 101A - Registry model: [Centrair 101A](https://openairdocs.org/model/centrair-101a) (registry code 1990102) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 101A0225 - Airframe hours: 919.25 - Engines: None none - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 7, 2025 - Airport: VSF, Hartness State Airport (Springfield), runway 5, 5,501 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; flight instructor, private, commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 5, 2021; seat: center; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 26,000 total, 653 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KVSF - METAR: KVSF 161754Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW070 SCT090 28/18 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP185 T02830178 10294 20150 56023 ## 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 20250816011799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250816011799A), Aug 16, 2025: Centrair 101A, Springfield, VT, Substantial damage. On 08/16/2025 at approximately 1330 EDT. A Centrair glider experienced an un-commanded climb at the start of a towed take off roll. The pilot immediately… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200802. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19232825&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RE_%20NTSB%206120%20Accident%20Report%20request_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 373 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19232352&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-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.