Amateur-built Aventura II accident near Deland, Florida, July 3, 2025
On July 3, 2025 at about 2:15 pm local time, a 2018 amateur-built Aventura II, registered N508K, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Deland, Florida (Deland Muni-Sidney H Taylor Fl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The uncertificated pilot’s failure to remove an improvised gust lock which resulted in a loss of aircraft control at an altitude too low to recover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2025 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Deland, Florida · Deland Muni-Sidney H Taylor Fl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Aventura II, built 2018
- Registration
- N508K · no longer on the register · serial AA2A0184
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The uncertificated pilot was attempting to depart in the accident airplane. Surveillance video from the airport captured the accident sequence and showed the airplane in a steep right bank with the wings near vertical and descending. The airplane impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident body camera video from first responders showed a seat cushion strap wrapped around the control stick. A mechanic who worked at the airport reported that they used the seat cushion strap as an improvised gust lock, with this strap wrapped around the control stick, the stick would be held fully aft and to the right. Postaccident examination found no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicology testing of blood that had been collected from the pilot at the hospital on the day of the accident at 1045. Methamphetamine was detected at 536 ng/mL and amphetamine was detected at 62 ng/mL. Alprazolam was detected at 31 ng/mL. In living people, methamphetamine blood concentrations of 20-50 ng/mL are typical with medicinal use, while methamphetamine blood concentrations over 200 ng/mL generally represent abuse. The pilot’s blood methamphetamine level indicates he likely had abused methamphetamine and was likely experiencing some impairing effects at the time of the accident. Methamphetamine use can severely impair piloting abilities, as the effects of use include poor judgment, risky behavior, and cognitive dysfunction. However, the specifics of these effects cannot be determined from a single measured level. In addition, alprazolam and the conditions for which it is typically prescribed have the potential to cause impairment.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 27.8 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Aero Momentum AM15T (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,301 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 17,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from DAB, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDAB 031353Z 22009KT 10SM FEW017 SCT070 BKN170 28/23 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP151 T02830228 $
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 – View of the airplane at the accident site.
Photograph 2 – View of damage to the airplane.
Photograph 3 – View of the seat cushion strap around control stick.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
9 documents, released by the NTSB on April 30, 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 | Memorandum for Record - No Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 Received | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Previous Flight Instructor Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Seller/manufacturer Statement to FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Mechanic Statement to FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Video of Accident | video | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Memorandum for Record A�� Examination of Flaps | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Medical Memorandum of Record | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | 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.