# NTSB ERA25LA349: Pipistrel Lsa S R L Virus 912 LSA, N272BH, Lincoln Park, NJ, September 16, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 16, 2025, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Lincoln Park, NJ · Hit a parked Mooney and a tree - Coordinates: 40.947238, -74.31447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9472&lon=-74.3145&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - 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): 201023 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA349 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201023/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201023 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA349 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate compensation for variable wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=060008N), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=060008N), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060008N), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=060008N), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060008N), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=060008N), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060008N), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=060008N), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting his third landing attempt in variable wind conditions. He reported encountering a tailwind on final approach, followed by a sudden downdraft near the runway’s landing threshold. The airplane touched down hard, bounced, and subsequently veered off the right side of the runway. The pilot attempted to slow the airplane by applying the brakes but was unable to stop. The left wing impacted a parked airplane, and the right wing collided with a tree, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N272BH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N272BH), registered now, S/N 992 VN 912 LSA, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPISTREL LSA S R L VIRUS 912 LSA - Registry model: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA](https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-lsa-s-r-l-virus-912-lsa) (registry code 060008N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 992 VN 912 LSA - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 116.4 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2024 - Departed: OZW, Howell, MI - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N07, Lincoln Park Airport, runway 19, 2,767 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review July 22, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 650 total, 134 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: KCDW, 5 nm away - METAR: METAR KCDW 161653Z 09007KT 060V130 10SM CLR 23/13 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP242 T02280128= ## 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 20250916020139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250916020139A), Sep 16, 2025: Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA, Lincoln Park, NJ, Substantial damage. The pilot in command of the aircraft was landing on runway 19 at N07. As stated by the pilot in command the winds were uneven needing constant correction. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201023. 3.2 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=20173157&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20ERA25LA349_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19777334&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA349%20Photo%20Array%20N272BH_Redacted-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.