# NTSB CEN25LA328: Vans RV14, N29JM, Parker, CO, August 13, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 13, 2025, 10:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Parker, CO · runway - Coordinates: 39.527563, -104.65653 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5276&lon=-104.6565&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 19, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 200827 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA328 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200827/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200827 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA328 ## Probable cause Separation of the right landing gear wheel assembly during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [James Mckinstry RV14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=05642WO), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [James Mckinstry RV14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05642WO), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [James Mckinstry RV14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05642WO), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [James Mckinstry RV14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05642WO), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [James Mckinstry RV14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05642WO), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the flight and approach for landing were uneventful. He executed a wheel landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane without any difficulties. However, during touchdown, he heard a “thunk” which, in hindsight, was the right landing gear wheel assembly separating from the strut. The airplane continued about 35 feet until the right landing gear strut contacted the ground and the airplane veered to the right and nosed over. The airframe sustained damage to the left wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. A post-accident examination of the airplane confirmed that the right wheel assembly had separated from the landing gear strut. The four attachment bolts were retained by the wheel assembly and were bent. The corresponding nuts were not recovered. Damage to the landing gear strut was consistent with contact to the ground following separation of the wheel assembly. No evidence of a failure of the landing gear strut was observed. Similarly, there was no indication that the attachment hardware failed to perform as intended. It is possible that the bolt torque was insufficient on installation or that the bolts loosened for another reason during operation. Once compromised, the nuts ultimately came off the bolts which allowed the wheel assembly to separate from the strut. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29JM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29JM), registered now, S/N 141081, built 2025 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans Aircraft RV14 - Registry model: [James Mckinstry RV14](https://openairdocs.org/model/james-mckinstry-rv14) (registry code 05642WO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming YIO-390EXP289](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-yio-390exp289) (registry code 42431, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 141081 - Year built: 2025 - Airframe hours: 15 - Engines: Lycoming YIO-390 215 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 15, 2025, 15 hours before - Departed: PUB, Pueblo, CO - Destination: 1CO8, Parker, CO - Airport: 1CO8, Everitt, runway 23, 2,500 × 50 ft, dirt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; flight instructor, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 20, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 22,710 total, 17 in this make and model, 5,400 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KAPA, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KAPA 131653Z 00000KT 10SM FEW140 FEW220 31/02 A3012 ## 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 20250813011019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250813011019A), Aug 13, 2025: James Mckinstry RV14, Parker, CO, Substantial damage. At around 1046 on August 13, 2025, the aircraft was landing on unimproved runway at Everitt Airport in Parker co when the right wheel assembly broke off the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200827. 111 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 9.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19928864&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN25LA328_redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19956650&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20--%20CEN25LA328-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 100 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19931957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20CEN25LA328_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19948603&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA%20Inspector%20--%20CEN25LA328-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.