# NTSB CEN24LA282: Just Highlander, N707KM, Oshkosh, WI, July 20, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 20, 2024, 17:21 local (22:21 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI · hard landing at the Ulralight field - Coordinates: 43.984371, -88.557042 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9844&lon=-88.5570&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194753 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA282 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194753/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194753 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA282 ## Probable cause The reported uncommanded retraction of the flaps while on short final for unknown reasons, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Kelly J Minton JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05642KT), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Kelly J Minton JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05642KT), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that when the airplane was on short final to land on a grass airstrip, close to the ground, the wing flaps retracted from 40° to 0° uncommanded, and the airplane started to sink. The pilot added engine power to arrest the descent; however, the airplane landed hard. The pilot taxied the airplane without further incident. A postlanding examination of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the fuselage on the right side. After the accident, the flaps were manipulated in and out of the fully extended flap position using the flap actuator handle. The flap controls were continuous and extended and retracted as designed. The flap actuator handle always remained secure in the detent. Investigators were unable to duplicate the uncommanded retraction of the flaps from 40° to 0°. There were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or related systems that would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2024, about 1721 central daylight time, a Just Highlander airplane, N707KM, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, she turned from the base leg to final to land on the grass runway. She reported that, when the airplane was on short final close to the ground, the wing flaps retracted from 40° to 0° uncommanded, and the airplane started to sink. The pilot added engine power to arrest the descent; however, the airplane landed hard. The pilot taxied the airplane without further incident. A postlanding examination of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the fuselage on the right side. After the accident, the flaps were manipulated in and out of the fully extended flap position using the flap actuator handle. The flap controls were continuous and extended and retracted as designed. The flap actuator handle always remained secure in the detent. Investigators were unable to duplicate the uncommanded retraction of the flaps from 40° to 0°. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the two flight control sticks in the cockpit to the respective aileron and elevator control surfaces. Continuity was confirmed from the rudder pedals aft to the rudder control surface. The passenger provided a video of the landing that was sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Division for review. The video was 1 minute and 29 seconds in length and showed a landing as described by the pilot. The video did not capture any aspect of the flap extension or retraction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N707KM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N707KM), registered now, S/N JA592-07-20, built 2024 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Just HIGHLANDER (JA20) - Registry model: [Kelly J Minton JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/kelly-j-minton-just-acft-highlander) (registry code 05642KT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 915 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-915-is-series) (registry code 55620, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA592-07-20 - Year built: 2024 - Airframe hours: 50 - Engines: Rotax 915 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 1, 2024 - Departed: Valparaiso, IN - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: OSH, Wittman Rgnl, runway 33, 1,200 × 25 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 18, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 682 total, 60 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 113 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KOSH - METAR: METAR KOSH 202253Z VRB05KT 10SM BKN070 27/16 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP168 T02720156= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240720011499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240720011499A), Jul 20, 2024: Kelly J Minton JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. On July 20, 2024 at 1720 CST, a just aircraft highlander JA20 landed on the ultralight landing strip runway 33 at Oshkosh, WI and had a hard landing that… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194753. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17930917&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N707KM%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Passenger statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17931807&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Minton%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Examination summary statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 3 photos, 446 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17933350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Exam%20summary%20statement-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17931825&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N707KM%20-%20Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video - specialist's factual report (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 1 photo, 562 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18816203&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA282%20-%20VIDEO%20-%20FINAL-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.