Vulcanair S P A VULCANAIR V1.0 accident near Cheswold, Delaware, February 8, 2025
On February 8, 2025 at about 3:33 am local time, a 2019 Vulcanair S P A VULCANAIR V1.0, registered N186DS, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Cheswold, Delaware (Delaware Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 8, 2025 · about 3:33 am local time
- Place
- Cheswold, Delaware · Delaware Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vulcanair S P A VULCANAIR V1.0, built 2019 · all VULCANAIR V1.0s on the register
- Registration
- N186DS · no longer on the register · serial 1022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 7, 2025, at 2233 eastern standard time, a Vulcanair S.p.A V1.0, N186DS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cheswold, Delaware. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 instructional flight. According to the pilot-rated passenger, the purpose of the flight was for the pilot to perform a cross-country flight to gain experience toward the pilot’s commercial pilot certificate. According to preliminary ADS-B data, the airplane departed from Delaware Airpark (33N), Dover, Delaware at 0906, and arrived at Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at 1245. According to the pilot, prior to departing MYR, they refueled the airplane to full fuel tanks for the return flight to 33N. At 1849, the ADS-B data revealed the airplane departed MYR and flew northeast. The pilot reported that they flew to Ocean City Municipal Airport, Ocean City, Maryland to perform a touch-and-go landing, followed by a flight to the Delaware Coastal Airport (GED), Georgetown, Delaware to perform another touch-and-go landing. After departing GED, they flew directly to 33N. When they were about 5 nautical miles south of 33N, the pilot maneuvered to the right base of the traffic pattern for runway 09 and descended to 1,000 ft msl. The pilot turned onto final approach when the airplane was about 2 miles from the approach end of the runway. While on short final approach, the pilot realized he was low and added engine power to adjust his glideslope. The pilot reported that engine power increased for about 2 seconds, and then the engine completely lost power. The pilot determined that he had insufficient altitude to reach the runway and performed a forced landing in the grass area just prior to the approach end of the runway. Shortly after touchdown on the grass, the airplane nosed over, which substantially damaged the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and the left wing. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
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
- Landing area undershoot during landing
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 936.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,546 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Delaware State University Aviation Program
The flight
- Departed from: MYR Myrtle Beach SC at 11:49 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 09, 4,201 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from KDOV, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDOV 080355Z AUTO 34005KT 10SM CLR M00/M07 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP244 T10031073
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.