Amateur-built AVENTURA II accident near Culebrita Beach, Puerto Rico, November 15, 2025
On November 15, 2025 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2004 amateur-built AVENTURA II, registered N258RS, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Culebrita Beach, Puerto Rico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the initial climb, which resulted in abnormal contact with the water and a subsequent collision with vegetation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 2025 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Culebrita Beach, Puerto Rico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVENTURA II, built 2004
- Registration
- N258RS · registry record · serial AP2A0060
- 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 during an eastbound departure from ocean waters in the amphibious airplane, he encountered a strong gust of wind from the southeast that resulted in a loss of control. Video footage of the accident sequence showed that after liftoff, the airplane entered a steep left bank, and the left wing contacted the water near the shoreline. The airplane subsequently leveled on the surface of the water, and the right wing impacted shoreline vegetation, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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 initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb 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 › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from TIST, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR TIST 151953Z 24005KT 10SM SCT026 30/24 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP113 T03000239 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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 May 14, 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 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Video File | MOV file | 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.