Golden Circle Air T-Bird accident near Dallas Center, Iowa, May 5, 2025
On May 5, 2025, a 1994 Golden Circle Air T-Bird, registered N7192M, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Dallas Center, Iowa (Husband Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate roll control of the light sport airplane while on final approach to the airstrip with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2025
- Place
- Dallas Center, Iowa · Husband Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Golden Circle Air T-Bird I, built 1994
- Registration
- N7192M · no longer on the register · serial 1107541
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting his first flight after he purchased and reassembled the light sport airplane. He intended to fly to a nearby grass airstrip to practice touch-and-go landings. He reported that the wind was calm during the takeoff and cruise portions of the flight. During final approach to the intended airstrip, about 30 ft above the ground and 200 ft short of the airstrip, a wind gust from the right caused the airplane to roll left. The pilot increased engine power and attempted to level the airplane’s wings, but the left wing impacted the ground and the airplane spun to stop short of the runway. The airplane’s aluminum tube fuselage structure and left wing sustained substantial damage during the ground impact. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the light sport airplane. Based on the reported wind direction and speed at an airport located about 11 nautical miles from the accident site, there was likely a direct right crosswind of about 8 knots while the airplane was on final approach to the airstrip.
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 approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 6, 2024
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 320 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 6, 2025; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 320 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 39IA Dallas Center IA
- Destination: 39IA Dallas Center IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from KPRO, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPRO 050015Z AUTO 07008KT 10SM CLR 22/05 A2995 RMK AO2 T02170048=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane at Accident Site, Front
Photograph 2 – Airplane at Accident Site, Front/Right
Photograph 3 – Airplane at Accident Site, Rear/RightThe 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 9, 2026. 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 | Meteorological Data | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 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.
Other NTSB records under N7192M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.