# NTSB WPR25LA287: Briseno Samuel Kolb Firefly, N139SB, Cave Junction, OR, September 13, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 13, 2025, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Cave Junction, OR
- Coordinates: 42.1036, -123.68241 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1036&lon=-123.6824&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 2025
- 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): 201042
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA287
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201042/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201042
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA287

## Probable cause

The non-certificated pilot's improper landing flare in turbulent wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.

## 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: [Briseno Samuel KOLB FIREFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05904XM), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Briseno Samuel KOLB FIREFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05904XM), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Briseno Samuel KOLB FIREFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=05904XM), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Briseno Samuel KOLB FIREFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05904XM), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Briseno Samuel KOLB FIREFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05904XM), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The non-certificated pilot reported that, during his first flight in the recently purchased airplane, he encountered turbulence on the base and final legs of the airport traffic pattern. While on the final approach to land, the airplane encountered a gust of wind that resulted in a hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage and lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident he was landing on runway 36 with wind variable at 5 knots, gusting to 10 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N139SB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N139SB-2026-03-22), registration cancelled 2026-03-22, S/N FF00-2-00013, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BRISENO SAMUEL KOLB FIREFLY
- Registry model: [Briseno Samuel KOLB FIREFLY](https://openairdocs.org/model/briseno-samuel-kolb-firefly) (registry code 05904XM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 447](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-447) (registry code 55576, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: FF00-2-00013
- Year built: 2003
- Airframe hours: 356.2
- Engines: Rotax 447 40 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 12, 2024
- Airport: 3S4, Illinois Valley, runway 36, 4,807 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Airframe parachute

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; seat: single; restraint: 4-point

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KBOK, 27 nm away
- METAR: METAR KBOK 131656Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM OVC006 13/13 A3002 RMK AO2 RAB24E37 CIG 004V007 SLP163 P0000 T01330128=

## 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 20250913015429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250913015429A), Sep 13, 2025: Briseno Samuel KOLB FIREFLY, Cave Junction, OR, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Had purchased aircraft believing that he had an ultralight aircraft. Aircraft was advertised as ultralight design by manufacture.…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201042. 2.7 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=19469809&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of phone conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19527849&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 967 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19477075&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-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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