Amateur-built 750 accident near Yacolt, Washington, December 23, 2025
On December 23, 2025 at about 11:43 pm local time, a 2025 amateur-built 750, registered N186BG, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Yacolt, Washington (Parkside Airpark airport). It was a personal flight 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 2025 · about 11:43 pm local time
- Place
- Yacolt, Washington · Parkside Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 750 Super Duty, built 2025
- Registration
- N186BG · registry record · serial SD75-11850
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning to the airport while conducting a phase 1 test flight in an experimental airplane when he detected a burning odor. He scanned the engine instruments which all showed normal indications. Shortly after, about 4 miles from his home airport, the engine shut down. He reported his position and intentions on the local radio frequency and initiated a forced landing to a down sloping field. During the landing roll the airplane impacted terrain, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot also reported that after he exited the airplane, he didn’t see any oil or water dripping from the cowling or oil spray on the windshield. At the time of the accident the airplane had accrued 16 hours of operation. The FAA conducted a postaccident examination of the experimental airframe and engine, which revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that he found an odor from one of the engine control unit (ECU) connectors, although a review of the electrical system by the FAA did not reveal any evidence of electrical system damage. The ECU was sent to the engine manufacturer and tested normally with a functioning engine. Based on this information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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 (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,400 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 5,560 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 14, 2025
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 21, 2025; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Viking Aircraft Engines 195T (piston); 16 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA87 Battle Ground WA at 11:17 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from KVUO, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KVUO 232253Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 08/04 A2975 RMK AO2 SLP076 T00780039
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 7 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Wreckage examination, wings.
Photograph 2 – Wreckage examination, engine and airframe.
Photograph 1 – Accident site, main wreckage.
Photograph 2 – Accident site, main wreckage.
Photograph 3 – Accident site, fuselage damage.
Photograph 4 – Accident site, fuselage damage.
Photograph 5 – Accident site, right wing damage.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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 14, 2026. 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 | Mor Video Description of Ecu Test | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array (Courtesy of the Pilot/owner) | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array (Courtesy of the FAA) | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Examination Notes-email | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 WPR26LA072.