# NTSB CEN26LA047: Engineering & Research 415, N94342, Sheboygan Falls, WI, November 13, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 12, 2025, 20:35 local (Nov 13, 2025, 02:35 UTC) - Place: Sheboygan Falls, WI - Coordinates: 43.769078, -87.852566 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7691&lon=-87.8526&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 January 9, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202029 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202029/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202029 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA047 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to arrest the airplane’s descent rate during a takeoff simulated engine failure which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=0420302), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Engineering & Research 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=0420302), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Engineering & Research 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0420302), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that during the night instructional flight, they had just completed a touch and go landing when he announced a simulated engine failure after takeoff to the student. Having only accomplished simulated engine failures after takeoff during the day, the student was slow to use the attitude directional indicator (ADI) to command the appropriate pitch attitude, and the airspeed began to decay. The flight instructor immediately took the flight controls and attempted to establish a proper pitch attitude and added power to climb. The airspeed did not build quickly enough so he applied full power to attempt to recover from the maneuver. He reported that the engine initially hesitated, and he pulled “almost full up elevator” to establish a level attitude as the engine began to develop full power. However, the airplane’s rate of descent was not arrested prior to runway contact resulting in a hard landing. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that the accident could have been avoided if he had familiarized the student with the ADI’s visual reference for best rate of climb and a power off landing attitude prior to the night flight, as well as, how to use the ADI’s during night flights. Additionally, trees and terrain west of the airplane’s approach point might have disturbed the approach winds. The instructor planned to factor that in during future approaches. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94342](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94342), registered now, S/N 1565, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ENGINEERING & RESEARCH 415 (C) - Registry model: [Engineering & Research 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-c) (registry code 0420302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1565 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3321.4 - Engines: Continental C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hoogstra Jay D - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 2025, 24 hours before - Airport: SBM, Sheboygan County Meml Intl, runway 22, 6,801 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review August 16, 2024; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 20,532 total, 500 in this make and model, 18,550 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KSBM - METAR: METAR KSBM 130153Z AUTO 28007KT 10SM CLR 05/M04 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP146 T00501044 ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202029. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19725936&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=cen26la047%20NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19695771&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=cen26la047%20photos-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.