Amateur-built Storm accident near Gaffney, South Carolina, October 13, 2025
On October 13, 2025 at about 9:10 pm local time, a amateur-built Storm (weight-shift aircraft), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Gaffney, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the initial climb, which resulted in an impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2025 · about 9:10 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Gaffney, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Storm
- Registration
- UNREG · registered outside the United States · serial None
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of an unregistered experimental weight-shift-control aircraft was attempting to depart from private property with one passenger onboard. The pilot reported that during the initial climb after takeoff, while attempting to clear trees, the aircraft stalled and impacted terrain. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation.
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 uncontrolled descent
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from SPA, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSPA 132055Z AUTO 02004KT 10SM SCT050 BKN085 26/11 A2991
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture 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
5 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photograph | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Foreign Notification Correspondence (Ouo) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- Engine: Rotax · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in South Carolina 1,036 since 1982 · 173 in the last ten years
- South Carolina 3,113 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under UNREG 10 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA26LA017.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.