Pilot Debrief

ARLIE L RABER III CHALLENGER 1 near Crestview, FL — 2025-05-04

Final reportERA25LA197
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Date
2025-05-04
Location
Crestview, FL, USA
Airport
FD93
Aircraft
ARLIE L RABER III CHALLENGER 1
Registration
N59BR
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to take off despite having problems controlling the airplane due to his physical stature.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was having difficulty controlling the airplane’s rudder pedals due to his physical stature. After several taxi attempts up and down the runway, he elected to take off for a short flight. After becoming airborne, the pilot began to have yaw controllability problems. He attempted to land, but was unable to control the airplane’s movements effectively, as his knees were contacting the instrument panel, and his feet were wedged behind the rudder pedals. The airplane continued to fly over terrain about 6 feet above ground level. With trees approaching, the pilot pushed the nose of the airplane down resulting in a hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward portion of the fuselage and the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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