# NTSB WPR25LA209: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer, N209ZM, Colorado City, AZ, July 11, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 11, 2025, 10:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Colorado City, AZ · Airport Environment - Coordinates: 36.91902, -113.16667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9190&lon=-113.1667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA – SLC FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200542 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200542/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200542 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA209 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s never-exceed speed (VNE) during maneuvering, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the left flaperon. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wing structure: ailerons](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035751): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035751/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a steep turn maneuver, the airplane pitched down and accelerated rapidly. The pilot stated that the airplane exceeded the never-exceed speed (VNE) and encountered aerodynamic buffeting, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the outboard portion of the left flaperon and substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N209ZM (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPISTREL ALPHA TRAINER - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5380 - Airframe hours: 1214.4 - Engines: ROTAX 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Final Design Group LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 24, 2025, 77 hours before - Departed: KGCN, Grand Canyon Village, AZ - Destination: 1L8, Hurricane, UT - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 24, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 272 total, 123 in this make and model, 227 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 29, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 163 total, 158 in this make and model, 102 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KAZC, 18 nm away - METAR: KAZC 111755Z AUTO 18004KT 10SM CLR 33/M10 A3013 RMK AO2 ## 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 20250711009139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250711009139A), Jul 11, 2025: Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, Hurricane, UT, Substantial damage. On July 11, 2025, [privacy data omitted] departed 1L8 with an intended destination of gcn for a touch and go and a return flight to 1L8. An IMC flight plan was… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200542. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19420343&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 722 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19420832&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.