Amazon.Com Services LLC MK30 accident near Pendleton, Oregon, February 21, 2025
On February 21, 2025 at about 6:33 pm local time, a 2024 Amazon.Com Services LLC MK30 (helicopter), registered N265PA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Pendleton, Oregon (Eastern Oregon Rgnl At Pendlet airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The unmanned aircraft system’s failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 2025 · about 6:33 pm local time
- Place
- Pendleton, Oregon · Eastern Oregon Rgnl At Pendlet · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amazon.Com Services LLC MK30, built 2024
- Registration
- N265PA · registry record · serial 178650100U
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator of the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) reported that, the purpose of the flight was to test the Safe Contingent Land (SCL) during a flight test operation, vertical ascent following a delivery. An obstacle (cart) was intentionally placed in the delivery area. As the UAS hovered over the delivery location, a commercial drone piloted by another employee, intentionally flew above the UAS. The UAS detected the drone and descended. During the descent the UAS struck the cart and came to a stop on the ground near the cart. After landing, the UAS performed an unplanned vertical ascent, started to oscillate, and descended into the ground. The UAS sustained substantial damage to the upper wing struts and fuselage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the UAS 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 defining event
- Loss of control in flight during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground equipment › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military, remote
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 215 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 23, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 75.2 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 26, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 82 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 3: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 4: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 5: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (electric); 0 hours total
- Engine 6: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (electric); 0 hours total
- Operator: Amazon.Com Services LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PDT Pendleton OR at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KPDT, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPDT 211853Z 32006KT 10SM CLR 07/01 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP243 T00670006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on May 9, 2025. 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 |
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.