Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA 300/L accident near Arlington, Washington, October 14, 2025
On October 14, 2025 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1995 Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA 300/L, registered N300EX, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Arlington, Washington (Arlington Muni airport). It was an instructional flight 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 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
- October 14, 2025 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · Arlington Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA 300/L, built 1995 · all EA 300/Ls on the register
- Registration
- N300EX · registry record · serial 011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 14, 2025, at about 1030 Pacific daylight time, an EXTRA FLUGZEUGBAU GMBH 300L, N300EX, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Arlington, Washington. The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction were uninjured. The aircraft operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The instructor pilot stated that prior to departure, he verified the canopy was closed and latched on three separate occasions. Several seconds after he initiated the takeoff roll, the canopy opened and then separated from the airplane. During the separation, the canopy struck and substantially damaged the rudder, right horizontal stabilizer, and right elevator trim tab. He rejected the takeoff and exited the runway. The instructor pilot reported the canopy separation was likely the result of a mechanical malfunction of the canopy latching mechanism and that the left-side locking mechanism might not have engaged its retention receptacle. An initial postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration investigator indicated that the canopy pins and hinges appeared to be intact. He observed some chipped paint on the right-side canopy pins and slight scuffing on the inboard side of the aft locking receptacles. The airplane wreckage was retained 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
- Part(s) separation from AC during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,003.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 2025; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,095 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Scott Gorski Aviation Aerobatics LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,332 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from KAWO
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAWO 141756Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 09/04 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP196 T00890044 10089 21017 51003
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.