Amateur-built ERACER MK II accident near Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, September 5, 2025
On September 5, 2025 at about 3:40 pm local time, a 2012 amateur-built ERACER MK II, registered N382RB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (Mt Pleasant Rgnl-Faison Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the nose gear actuator bolt during the landing roll, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2025 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Pleasant, South Carolina · Mt Pleasant Rgnl-Faison Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ERACER MK II, built 2012
- Registration
- N382RB · no longer on the register · serial 92-0115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot experimental amateur-built airplane reported that the approach and landing were normal with no anomalies observed. During the landing roll, the airplane’s retractable nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway before it impacted uneven terrain. The airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear actuator bolt had failed, which likely resulted in the collapse of the nose gear assembly during the landing.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Gear attach fittings (on fus) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,699 hours in all; 490 in this make and model; 18,699 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 490 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 27, 2025; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 (piston); 490 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFC Peachtree City GA at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from KLRO
Weather report (METAR): KLRO 051535Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM CLR 30/20 A3004 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 July 15, 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 | Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photos | 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.