# NTSB ERA26LA058: Huebbe Tom MAX TH, N48TH, Inverness Highlands South, FL, November 26, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 26, 2025, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place: Inverness Highlands South, FL · on the airport
- Coordinates: 28.800352, -82.318596
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8004&lon=-82.3186&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 17, 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): 202087
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202087/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202087
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA058

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control on takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the aircraft design that did not incorporate differential braking.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Design; cases with it: [Huebbe Tom MAX TH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=05602JK), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Huebbe Tom MAX TH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05602JK), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Huebbe Tom MAX TH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05602JK), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Huebbe Tom MAX TH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05602JK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was departing with a mild right crosswind in the amateur-built, steerable tailwheel-equipped airplane, without differential braking. After initiating his takeoff roll, the airplane began to drift to the left and he was unable to correct. The airplane exited the runway and struck a sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane’s tailwheel or brake system that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48TH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48TH), registered now, S/N 450, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUEBBE TOM MAX TH
- Registry model: [Huebbe Tom MAX TH](https://openairdocs.org/model/huebbe-tom-max-th) (registry code 05602JK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 450
- Year built: 1996
- Engines: Great Plains VW 1800cc 60 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 13, 2025
- Departed: KINF, INVERNESS, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: INF, Inverness, runway 19, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 122 total, 29 in this make and model, 56 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: inf
- METAR: SA	26/11/2025 22:35->METAR KINF 262235Z AUTO 00000KT 5SM HZ CLR 23/20 A3007

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202087. 4.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20406029&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 642 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19790049&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04-pilot%20response%20to%20FAA%20questions_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Mor, FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20406096&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR,%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(1)-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 346 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19790059&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05-Photo%20array%20in%20PDF-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.

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