XAG P100 PRO accident near Depew, Iowa, August 12, 2025
On August 12, 2025 at about 9:00 pm local time, a XAG P100 PRO (helicopter), registered N467GE, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Depew, Iowa. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the unmanned aircraft system during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2025 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Depew, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- XAG P100 PRO · all P100 PROs on the register
- Registration
- N467GE · registry record · serial 1863FPEG8219323A0Y25
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After the pilot completed the preflight of the quadcopter style unmanned aircraft system (UAS), he backed away from the UAS and initiated takeoff. As the UAS began to take off, the pilot walked back towards the UAS to retrieve old batteries. As he bent over to pick up the batteries, he sensed the UAS was too close to him, and he raised his hands to shield his face. The UAS rotor blade contacted his hand resulting in a serious injury. The operator also reported that one of the rotor blades needed to be replaced.
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
- AC/prop/rotor contact w person during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Positioning/available space › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: remote
- Ratings: rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 150 hours in all
- Last flight review: June 26, 2025
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 194 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: XAG A50 (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: XAG A50 (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 3: XAG A50 (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 4: XAG A50 (electric); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Depew IA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KAXA, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAXA 122055Z AUTO 35008G15KT 10SM FEW037 FEW044 27/20 A2996 RMK A01=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on September 18, 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 |
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.