Arion Aircraft LLC LIGHTNING LS-1 accident near Bowling Green, Kentucky, November 14, 2025
On November 14, 2025 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2010 Arion Aircraft LLC LIGHTNING LS-1, registered N897PR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Bowling Green, Kentucky (Bowling Green-Warren County Rg 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control while landing in a strong quartering headwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with an airport sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 2025 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bowling Green, Kentucky · Bowling Green-Warren County Rg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Arion Aircraft LLC LIGHTNING LS-1, built 2010 · all LIGHTNING LS-1s on the register
- Registration
- N897PR · registry record · serial 96
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the wind speed at the airport had increased significantly since his departure about 1 hour earlier. He stated that at touchdown, an unexpected strong wind gust lifted the right wing, and the left wingtip contacted the runway. The airplane subsequently veered to the left and collided with an airport sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot was landing with a 20° right-quartering headwind at 12 knots.
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 control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 756 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 705 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 6, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 333.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2025; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300 (piston); 334 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 6,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KBWG
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBWG 141953Z AUTO 23012KT 10SM FEW055 24/11 A3007
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA042.