Skip to content

WPR25LA209

2025-07-11 · Colorado City, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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.

Factual narrative

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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Capability exceeded
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Wing structure-Ailerons-Damaged/degraded

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_WPR25LA209.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.