Amateur-built CHRISTAVIA accident near South Saint Paul, Minnesota, August 20, 2025
On August 20, 2025 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 2019 amateur-built CHRISTAVIA, registered N383JA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near South Saint Paul, Minnesota (Richard E Fleming Field). 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 airplane control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to land the airplane on a non-approved landing surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2025 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- South Saint Paul, Minnesota · Richard E Fleming Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHRISTAVIA MK4, built 2019
- Registration
- N383JA · registry record · serial JA 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 while rolling out on the grass between the runway and taxiway, the airplane began to slowly pitch forward until it nosed over. The pilot attempted to correct with full back pressure on the yoke; however, the airplane did not respond to the control input. The pilot reported that he touched the brakes during the roll out. The airplane came to rest inverted which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, left wing, and lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to land the airplane on a non-approved landing surface between the runway and taxiway.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing 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
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area condition › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 210 hours in all; 122 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 169 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 28, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 122 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 25, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1D6 (piston); 122 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Riverfalls WI at 4:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from KSGS
Weather report (METAR): KSGS 201635Z AUTO 05005KT 10SM BKN027 BKN032 OVC038 27/19 A3016 RMK AO2 T02660185=
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
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 | Inspector Statement Mor | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | 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.