Capella Aircraft CORP FW1C50 accident near Ozark, Missouri, December 15, 2024
On December 15, 2024 at about 5:20 pm local time, a 1997 Capella Aircraft CORP FW1C50, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N556CF, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Ozark, Missouri (Gimlin airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during high-speed taxi.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 15, 2024 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Ozark, Missouri · Gimlin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Capella Aircraft CORP FW1C50, built 1997, amateur-built
- Registration
- N556CF · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was unfamiliar with the single seat amateur-built airplane and his intent was to perform high-speed taxi testing of the airplane. He stated that he made a high-speed taxi to the south on runway 18 and then proceeded to make another high-speed taxi in the opposite direction on runway 36. During the high-speed taxi on runway 36, wind from the southeast picked up the left wing, the airplane inadvertently became airborne, and the airplane drifted to the right. The airplane was heading toward trees and the pilot applied full throttle to clear the trees but was unable to maintain control of the airplane. The airplane struck the ground, and the nose and right main landing gear separated. The right wing incurred substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
- Miscellaneous/other during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 95 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 6, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 222 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 10, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 222 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 3,005 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 am from KSGF, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSGF 151752Z 15015KT 10SM CLR 14/03 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP200 T01390028 10139 20006 58024 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 3, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.