# NTSB CEN25LA209: Vans RV-14, N852BJ, Sealy, TX, June 17, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 17, 2025, 13:24 local (18:24 UTC)
- Place: Sealy, TX
- Coordinates: 29.733392, -96.059181
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7334&lon=-96.0592&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200341
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA209
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200341/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200341
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA209

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper use of airplane’s wheel brakes during the landing roll-out.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [William F Oehl JR VANS RV-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056405X), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [William F Oehl JR VANS RV-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=056405X), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [William F Oehl JR VANS RV-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056405X), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [William F Oehl JR VANS RV-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056405X), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he landed his tailwheel airplane within the first third of the runway; however, the end of the runway was approaching quickly. He firmly applied brakes before the tailwheel was on the ground, and the nose of the airplane tipped forward and the propeller hit the runway. The airplane flipped and came to rest right side up on the runway. The fuselage, wings, and empennage sustained substantial damaged. The pilot said that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N852BJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N852BJ-2026-03-25), registration cancelled 2026-03-25, S/N 140856, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Vans Aircraft Company RV-14
- Registry model: [William F Oehl JR VANS RV-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/william-f-oehl-jr-vans-rv-14) (registry code 056405X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 140856
- Year built: 2023
- Airframe hours: 236.86
- Engines: Lycoming YAE-IO-390 EXP 119 215 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Condition, August 28, 2024
- Departed: KHBZ, Heber Springs, AR
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 1XA7, Gloster Aerodrome, runway 27, 2,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; flight engineer, military, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 11, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 20,500 total, 284 in this make and model, 17,000 as pilot in command, 13.9 in the last 90 days, 8.8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 2993.00 inHg
- Observed at: KTME, 9 nm away

## 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 20250617007589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250617007589A), Jun 17, 2025: William F Oehl Jr VANS RV-14, Sealy, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot and on one passenger departed hbz to fly to 1XA7. The arrival airport has three grass runways. Runway 02/20 was closed for wet conditions due to recent…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200341. 6.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19059050&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=New%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19058830&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-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.

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