Amateur-built VBAT accident near Douglas, Arizona, April 8, 2025
On April 8, 2025 at about 9:55 pm local time, a 2022 amateur-built VBAT, registered N443VA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Douglas, Arizona (Bisbee Douglas Intl airport). It was a flight test 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 malfunction of the throttle servo which resulted in the complete loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2025 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Douglas, Arizona · Bisbee Douglas Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VBAT, built 2022
- Registration
- N443VA · registry record · serial 043
- 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 during a test flight, the throttle servo malfunction resulting in complete loss of engine power. The pilot was able to maneuver the UAS to a safe location where it impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and flight control surfaces.
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 engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Power lever › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: remote
- Ratings: rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Last flight review: September 11, 2024
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Last flight review: September 11, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 28.8 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 11, 2025; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 125 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Suter TOA 288 (piston); 49 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from KDUG, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDUG 152156Z AUTO 23015G27KT 10SM FEW110 31/02 A3002 RMK AO2 PK WND 22027/2148 SLP098 T03060017
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on June 20, 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.