# NTSB CEN25LA375: Just Highlander, N442DU, Forest Lake, MN, September 11, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 11, 2025, 15:33 local (20:33 UTC) - Place: Forest Lake, MN · Runway 13 at Forest Lake Airport - Coordinates: 45.249607, -92.995033 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2496&lon=-92.9950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 15, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200996 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA375 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200996/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200996 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA375 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during a gusty crosswind landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Droessler Justin G JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05641M7), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Droessler Justin G JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05641M7), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Droessler Justin G JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05641M7), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Droessler Justin G JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05641M7), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Droessler Justin G JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05641M7), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Droessler Justin G JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05641M7), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a flight test of the experimental amateur-built airplane. He was returning to make a full stop landing when during the landing flare a wind gust from the right caused the airplane to drift left and depart off the left runway edge. The airplane then descended an embankment and nosed over. The upper portion of the rudder and a right-wing lift strut sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Based on the reported wind direction and speed at an airport located about 13 nautical miles from the accident site, there was likely a gusting left crosswind component of about 4 to 6 knots at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N442DU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N442DU), registered now, S/N JAESC00107, built 2025 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Just Aircraft Highlander - Registry model: [Droessler Justin G JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/droessler-justin-g-just-acft-highlander) (registry code 05641M7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls) (registry code 55607, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JAESC00107 - Year built: 2025 - Airframe hours: 10 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 27, 2025, 10 hours before - Departed: 25D, Forest Lake, MN - Destination: 25D, Forest Lake, MN - Airport: 25D, Forest Lake Airport, runway 13, 2,700 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 160 total, 15 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 14 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KOEO, 13 nm away - METAR: KOEO 112035Z AUTO 12014G18KT 10SM SCT031 SCT038 24/15 A3020 RMK AO2 T02440149 PWINO ## 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 20250911012529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250911012529A), Sep 11, 2025: Droessler Justin G JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, Forest Lake, MN, Substantial damage. The PIC was performing his third phase one flight test of his amateur-built just aircraft highlander. Winds were out of the west at 8 knots, gusting to 15… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200996. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19746306&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Meteorological data (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19746077&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Meteorological%20Data-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 863 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19746316&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Investigation%20Photographs%20(CEN25LA375)-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.