# NTSB WPR25LA103: Amazon.Com Services MK30, N265PA, Pendleton, OR, February 21, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 21, 2025, 10:33 local (18:33 UTC) - Place: Pendleton, OR - Coordinates: 45.701787, -118.86429 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7018&lon=-118.8643&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 199746 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199746/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199746 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA103 ## Probable cause The unmanned aircraft system’s failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. ## 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: [Amazon.Com Services MK30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06102FK), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Amazon.Com Services MK30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md?model=06102FK), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Amazon.Com Services MK30, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=06102FK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Amazon.Com Services MK30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=06102FK), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator of the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) reported that, the purpose of the flight was to test the Safe Contingent Land (SCL) during a flight test operation, vertical ascent following a delivery. An obstacle (cart) was intentionally placed in the delivery area. As the UAS hovered over the delivery location, a commercial drone piloted by another employee, intentionally flew above the UAS. The UAS detected the drone and descended. During the descent the UAS struck the cart and came to a stop on the ground near the cart. After landing, the UAS performed an unplanned vertical ascent, started to oscillate, and descended into the ground. The UAS sustained substantial damage to the upper wing struts and fuselage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the UAS that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N265PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N265PA), registered now, S/N 178650100U, built 2024 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC MK30 - Registry model: [Amazon.Com Services MK30](https://openairdocs.org/model/amazon-com-services-mk30) (registry code 06102FK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, unmanned - Serial number: 178650100U - Year built: 2024 - Airframe hours: 75.2 - Engines: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG electric; AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG electric; AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG electric; AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG electric; AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG electric; AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG electric - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Amazon.Com Services LLC - Registered owner: Amazon.Com Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 26, 2025 - Departed: PDT, Pendleton, OR - Airport: PDT, Eastern Oregon Rgnl At Pendleton - Equipment: Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial, remote, military; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 23, 2023; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 800 total, 215 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.24 inHg - Observed at: KPDT, 1 nm away - METAR: KPDT 211853Z 32006KT 10SM CLR 07/01 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP243 T00670006 ## 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 20250221001139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250221001139A), Feb 21, 2025: Amazon.Com Services LLC MK30, Pendleton, OR, Substantial damage. On February 21, 2025, a single MK30 drone, was conducting a flight under sac-ec and experimental authority at Pendleton flight test facility and was involved… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199746. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18378426&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20for%206120_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.