# NTSB ERA26LA042: Arion Lightning LS-1, N897PR, Bowling Green, KY, November 14, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 14, 2025, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Bowling Green, KY - Coordinates: 36.964528, -86.419667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9645&lon=-86.4197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 7, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA LOU FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202012/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202012 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA042 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control while landing in a strong quartering headwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with an airport sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the wind speed at the airport had increased significantly since his departure about 1 hour earlier. He stated that at touchdown, an unexpected strong wind gust lifted the right wing, and the left wingtip contacted the runway. The airplane subsequently veered to the left and collided with an airport sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot was landing with a 20° right-quartering headwind at 12 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N897PR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N897PR), registered now, S/N 96, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ARION AIRCRAFT LLC LIGHTNING LS-1 - Registry model: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/arion-lightning-ls-1) (registry code 060006O) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 96 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 333.5 - Engines: JABIRU 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pitchford Robert B - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2025, 10 hours before - Airport: BWG, Bowling Green-Warren County Rgnl, runway 21, 6,501 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 6, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 756 total, 109 in this make and model, 705 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KBWG - METAR: METAR KBWG 141953Z AUTO 23012KT 10SM FEW055 24/11 A3007 ## 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 20251114018929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251114018929A), Nov 14, 2025: Arion Aircraft LLC LIGHTNING LS-1, Bowling Green, KY, Substantial damage. Upon return to the airport, during landing rollout, the pilot encountered a crosswind that picked up the right wing up causing the aircraft to yaw to the left.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202012. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19956632&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 907 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20326744&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA042%20Photos%20for%20Docket-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20326505&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=BWG%20TAF-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.