Amateur-built RANS S-19 (KIT) accident near Doylestown, Pennsylvania, February 10, 2025
On February 10, 2025 at about 4:01 pm local time, a 2011 amateur-built RANS S-19 (KIT), registered N258DK, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Doylestown, Pennsylvania (Doylestown 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 inadequate maintenance and preflight inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 2025 · about 4:01 pm local time
- Place
- Doylestown, Pennsylvania · Doylestown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-19 (KIT), built 2011
- Registration
- N258DK · registry record · serial 011000083
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The day before the accident, the pilot had removed the airplane’s induction air filter but had inadvertently forgotten to reinstall it. On the day of the accident flight, he had also inadvertently forgotten to remove the engine cowling plugs. After takeoff, the pilot turned onto the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern and the engine output immediately reduced to idle power and the engine would not respond to throttle input. The pilot then executed a forced landing in a gravel lot, during which the airplane bounced, the nose landing gear separated, and the airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the wreckage confirmed that the left cowling plug was partially ingested into the end of the intake filter duct, completely obstructing it. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe or engine were otherwise found. Based on this information, it is likely that the restricted flow of intake air to the engine resulted in the partial loss of engine power.
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 engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute (descent)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › Air intake › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,722.8 hours in all; 1,185.8 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 12.5 in the last 30 days; 2,272.8 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 15, 2023
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,362 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 2024; 1,229 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 1,361 hours total
The flight
- Destination: N40 Pittstown NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06/2, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.38 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 am from DYL
Weather report (METAR): KDYL 101554Z AUTO 29006KT 10SM BKN040 01/M06 A3038 RMK AO2 SLP295 T00111061
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane postaccident
Photograph 2 – Vertical stabilizer accident damage
Photograph 3 – Right wing accident damage
Photograph 4 – Engine postaccidentThe 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 May 9, 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 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Inspectors Statement | PDF, 2 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.