# NTSB ERA25LA315: Patriot CX1900A, N150SP, Centreville, AL, August 20, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 20, 2025, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Centreville, AL · wooded area - Coordinates: 32.94, -87.09 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9400&lon=-87.0900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 4, 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): 200860 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA315 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200860/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200860 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA315 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to detect and remove water contamination from the airplane’s fuel system before the flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb. ## 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: [Patriot CX1900A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=056411E), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Patriot CX1900A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056411E), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Patriot CX1900A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056411E), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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 servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020); cases with it: [Patriot CX1900A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md?model=056411E), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Patriot CX1900A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=056411E), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Patriot CX1900A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056411E), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, who was also the owner of the experimental amateur-built airplane’s kit manufacturer, was performing a demonstration flight for potential buyers. The pilot reported that after fueling the airplane, a preflight inspection was performed and no anomalies were found; however, he stated that he did not sump the fuel tanks or the low-point drains. The pilot stated that after performing the engine runup and allowing the engine to reach operating temperatures, he performed a normal take off. At around 300 ft above ground level, the pilot reported that the engine began to “cut out,” and the pilot pulled the throttle bringing the engine to idle. He then began a left turn back toward the runway and advanced the throttle; however, the engine lost complete power. The pilot realized that he would not make it back to the runway and performed a forced landing into a wooded area. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it had sustained substantial damage to the wings. Examination of the engine found evidence of water in the fuel flow divider. After draining both wing fuel tanks, a significant amount of water was observed in the right wing fuel tank. According to the pilot, there were no fueling services available at the departure airport, and so he would fill barrels with fuel and store the barrels at the airport. According to the individuals who fueled the airplane that morning, when fueling the right fuel tank, they needed to tip the fuel barrel all the way on its side to get the last remaining fuel. Based on this information, it is likely that when the right fuel tank was filled, water that had accumulated in the fuel barrel was poured into the right fuel tank, which was then not drained during the preflight inspection. Subsequently, during takeoff, water likely entered the engine’s fuel system and cylinders, resulting in the reported loss of power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N150SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N150SP), registered now, S/N CX1900A-0001, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PATRIOT AIRCRAFT LLC CX1900A - Registry model: [Patriot CX1900A](https://openairdocs.org/model/patriot-cx1900a) (registry code 056411E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CX1900A-0001 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 425.7 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-EXP 197 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 24, 2025, 93.5 hours before - Airport: 0A8, Bibb County, runway 10/28, 4,206 × 80 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: TCL, 31 nm away - METAR: METAR KTCL 201453Z 00000KT 10SM SCT065 30/23 A2995= ## 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 20250820010519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250820010519A), Aug 20, 2025: Patriot Aircraft LLC CX1900A, Centerville, AL, Substantial damage. Aircraft experienced engine failure shortly after takeoff. Emergency return initiated by PIC but unable to reach suitable landing site. Aircraft impacted tree… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200860. 11.6 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=19538352&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statements provided to the FAA (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 8.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19538362&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statements%20N150SP_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA examination and pilot interview (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 627 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19539364&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=INSPECTOR%20STATEMENT%20N150SP_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19539896&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%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.