Amateur-built KOLB FIREFLY accident near Cave Junction, Oregon, September 13, 2025
On September 13, 2025 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2003 amateur-built KOLB FIREFLY, registered N139SB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Cave Junction, Oregon (Illinois Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-certificated pilot's improper landing flare in turbulent wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2025 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cave Junction, Oregon · Illinois Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KOLB FIREFLY, built 2003
- Registration
- N139SB · no longer on the register · serial FF00-2-00013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot reported that, during his first flight in the recently purchased airplane, he encountered turbulence on the base and final legs of the airport traffic pattern. While on the final approach to land, the airplane encountered a gust of wind that resulted in a hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage and lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident he was landing on runway 36 with wind variable at 5 knots, gusting to 10 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) 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 › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 356.2 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 12, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 528 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 447 (piston); 367 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,807 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 am from KBOK, 27 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBOK 131656Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM OVC006 13/13 A3002 RMK AO2 RAB24E37 CIG 004V007 SLP163 P0000 T01330128=
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 December 4, 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 |
| 2 | Record of Phone Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.