# NTSB WPR25LA259: Czech Aircraft Group Sro Sportcruiser, N538SF, Puyallup, WA, August 25, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 25, 2025, 14:56 local (21:56 UTC)
- Place: Puyallup, WA · heavily vegetated field adjacent to airport perimeter fence
- Coordinates: 47.10392, -122.2872 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1039&lon=-122.2872&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200863
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA259
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200863/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA259

## Preliminary report

On August 25, 2025, about 1456 Pacific daylight time, a Czech Aircraft Group SRO Sportcruiser, N538SF was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Puyallup, Washington. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 maintenance test flight. A 100-hr maintenance inspection had just been completed and a pilot and mechanic from the flight school were conducting a post-maintenance check flight. After takeoff from runway 35, the pilot reported that there was an engine problem, and he attempted to turn back to the runway. However, the airplane would not maintain altitude and impacted a heavily vegetated field, west of the airport perimeter fence. The airplane was recovered for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Czech Aircraft Group Sro SPORTCRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=06001C9), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Czech Aircraft Group Sro SPORTCRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=06001C9), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Czech Aircraft Group Sro SPORTCRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=06001C9), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N538SF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N538SF), registered now, S/N C0694, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CZECH AIRCRAFT GROUP SRO SPORTCRUISER
- Registry model: [Czech Aircraft Group Sro SPORTCRUISER](https://openairdocs.org/model/czech-aircraft-group-sro-sportcruiser) (registry code 06001C9) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: C0694
- Year built: 2023
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Flight test, Part 91
- Operator: Spana Flight
- Registered owner: Epic Aviation Leasing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 25, 2025
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: PLU, Pierce County/Thun Fld

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: KTCM, 8 nm away
- METAR: KTCM 252155Z AUTO 02006KT 10SM CLR 32/12 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP133 T03200122 $

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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