- Date
- July 19, 2025, 11:34 local (18:34 UTC)
- Place
- Hollister, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Defining events
- Landing: Collision during takeoff/landTakeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 7, 2026
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA reports
- 20250719016792A20250719009102A
- Case key
- 200589
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The departing pilot’s failure to see and avoid the landing airplane during the takeoff, which resulted in a mid-air collision.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
N551SG · Cirrus Design SR22
N926DT · Nelson Douglas Vans RV-8
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
N551SG · Cirrus Design SR22
N926DT · Nelson Douglas Vans RV-8
Analysis
The pilot of the Cirrus reported that he was conducting the RNAV GPS runway 31 approach in visual conditions. While crossing the threshold of the runway he saw what he thought was a wing and he heard a loud bang. The airplane nosed over and impacted the runway. The pilot of the RV-8 reported that he taxied to the beginning of the runway, near the fire base [CAL FIRE hangars]. The pilot looked for traffic and did not see any. The pilot applied power, rotated and the airplane began to climb. When the airplane was about 50 to 100 ft above ground level, he saw something from below and on the right side, then experienced “the inflight collision.” The pilot then reduced power and landed on the remaining runway. A video, from an airplane on a taxiway, captured the infight collision between the Cirrus and RV-8 airplanes. White flashing lights were in view near the runway that were consistent with runway end identifier lights (REIL) for runway 31. The Cirrus was descending to a point beyond the relocated threshold. The RV-8 was airborne prior to the relocated threshold and while climbing, struck the empennage of the Cirrus. The Cirrus rapidly descended to the runway, which substantially damaged the fuselage and empennage. The RV-8 landed on the runway. Both pilots reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures, with their respective airplanes, that would have precluded normal operations. According to 14 Code of Federal Regulations §91.113(g), “Landing. Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface…”
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N551SG
- Reported as
- Cirrus Design SR22
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4562
- Built
- 2017
- Engine
- Continental IO-550-N, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- VNY · Van Nuys, CA
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- CVH · Hollister Municipal Airport, runway 31, 6,350 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N926DT
- Reported as
- Nelson Douglas Vans RV-8
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 80759
- Built
- 2002
- Airframe hours
- 1,768
- Engine
- Lycoming IO360-A1B6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · June 2, 2025 · 6 hours before
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N551SG
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 1, 2023
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 292.9 total · 156 in this make and model · 219.2 as pilot in command · 15.2 in the last 90 days · 2.1 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N926DT
- Age
- 77
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown
- Last flight review
- September 14, 2024
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 4,049 total · 1,344 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KCVH, 1 nm away
- METAR
- KCVH 191915Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 22/13 A3004 RMK A01
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.