# Accident 20260224010959A: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12IS, Appleton, WI, February 24, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 24, 2026, 09:48 local time
- Place: Appleton, WI
- Airport: Appleton International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Location: 44.2583° N, 88.5207° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2583&lon=-88.5207&mi=10
- Aircraft: N46TB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46TB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Vans RV-12IS (registry code 069002L, https://openairdocs.org/model/vans-rv-12is) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912 IS series (registry code 55593, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-is-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS AIRCRAFT INC RV-12IS
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912 IS
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA125) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260224010959A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PIC OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS PROVIDING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION IN A RV-12. DURING THE LANDING TRANSITION OVER THE RUNWAY NUMBERS, THE AIRSPEED DROPPED AS THE STUDENT PILOT LOST THE HEADWIND COMPONENT. THE PIC FAILED TO ADD ADEQUATE POWER TO THE ENGINE IN TIME TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT FROM STALLING WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT WING TO DROP AND CONTACT THE RUNWAY SURFACE, RESULTING IN A WING STRIKE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS THAT LED TO THIS INCIDENT WERE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDING AT A RUNWAY WITH A CROSSWIND. PIC HAD LIMITED TIME IN THE AIRCRAFT WITH STUDENT ESTIMATING BETWEEN 5-10 FLIGHTS. PIC ALSO STATED HE DID NOT HEAR ATC REPORT THAT THE WINDS CHANGED FROM 160 TO 180 WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN HIM SELECTING A MORE ADVANTAGEOUS RUNWAY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN26LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA125), Feb 24, 2026: Vans RV-12IS (N46TB), Appleton, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed during landing and exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the runway.…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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