# NTSB ERA25LA354: Jonker Sailplanes JS3, N68MF, New Castle, VA, September 13, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 13, 2025, 13:52 local (17:52 UTC) - Place: New Castle, VA - Coordinates: 37.483463, -80.099769 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4835&lon=-80.0998&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - 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): 201045 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA354 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201045/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201045 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA354 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly configure the glider for landing, which resulted in an excessive descent rate during approach, and subsequent collision with trees short of the intended landing area. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jonker Sailplanes JS3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=05637Y4), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: configuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Jonker Sailplanes JS3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md?model=05637Y4), [All aircraft, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Jonker Sailplanes JS3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05637Y4), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Jonker Sailplanes JS3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05637Y4), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the turbine powered (jet sustainer) motorglider reported that during descent to the airport, he deployed and operated the jet sustainer for 90 seconds. After turning off the jet sustainer, the pilot forgot to stow it, resulting in increased drag. After entering the traffic pattern, the pilot configured the glider for landing by extending the flaps and landing gear, but the jet sustainer remained extended. The pilot noticed a sink rate in excess of normal, and attempted to resolve the condition by reducing flaps, but inadvertently placed the flaps in the full negative position, which deployed the spoilers and increased the sink rate further. He continued in the airport traffic pattern; however, during the base leg to final leg turn, he realized that impact with a tree line was likely and decided to level the wings to make contact with the trees in a controlled fashion. The glider subsequently impacted the trees resulting in substantial damage to its right wing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the glider. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68MF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68MF), registered now, S/N 03-136, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JONKER SAILPLANES (PTY) LTD JS3 - Registry model: [Jonker Sailplanes JS3](https://openairdocs.org/model/jonker-sailplanes-js3) (registry code 05637Y4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [M&D Flugze MD-TJ42](https://openairdocs.org/engine/m-d-flugze-md-tj42) (registry code 45010, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 03-136 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 132.6 - Engines: Md-Flugzeugbau MD-TJ42 78 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 13, 2024 - Airport: VA85, New Castle Intl, runway 36, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; last flight review December 23, 2024; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 421 total, 55.5 in this make and model, 322 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: ROA, 12 nm away - METAR: KROA 131754Z 18004KT 10SM FEW050 26/11 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP205 T02560111 10256 20128 58019= ## 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 20250913012779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250913012779A), Sep 13, 2025: Jonker Sailplanes (Pty) Ltd JS3, New Castle, VA, Substantial damage. On August 13, 2025, at 13:52 local time and in VFR weather, glider [privacy data omitted] a Jonker JS3 rapture with jet engine, returned from flight into right… ## 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=201045. 5.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19341682&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record - FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19315594&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19315130&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROA%20METAR%209-13-25-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19315791&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA%2025LA354%20-%20Investigation%20Photographs_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.