Czech Aircraft Group Sro SPORTCRUISER accident near Puyallup, Washington, August 25, 2025
On August 25, 2025 at about 9:56 pm local time, a 2023 Czech Aircraft Group Sro SPORTCRUISER, registered N538SF, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Puyallup, Washington (Pierce County/Thun Fld airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 2025 · about 9:56 pm local time
- Place
- Puyallup, Washington · Pierce County/Thun Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Czech Aircraft Group Sro SPORTCRUISER, built 2023 · all SPORTCRUISERs on the register
- Registration
- N538SF · registry record · serial C0694
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 25, 2025, about 1456 Pacific daylight time, a Czech Aircraft Group SRO Sportcruiser, N538SF was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Puyallup, Washington. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 maintenance test flight. A 100-hr maintenance inspection had just been completed and a pilot and mechanic from the flight school were conducting a post-maintenance check flight. After takeoff from runway 35, the pilot reported that there was an engine problem, and he attempted to turn back to the runway. However, the airplane would not maintain altitude and impacted a heavily vegetated field, west of the airport perimeter fence. The airplane was recovered for further examination.
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 (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during emergency descent
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 25, 2025
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KTCM, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTCM 252155Z AUTO 02006KT 10SM CLR 32/12 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP133 T03200122 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 WPR25LA259.