# NTSB CEN26LA055: Just Highlander, N957DK, Brazos, TX, November 27, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 27, 2025, 15:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Brazos, TX - Coordinates: 30.6504, -96.3226 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6504&lon=-96.3226&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 202079 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202079/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202079 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level maneuvering along a river. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kretchmer Daniel R HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=056334V), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Kretchmer Daniel R HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=056334V), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Kretchmer Daniel R HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=056334V), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Kretchmer Daniel R HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=056334V), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Kretchmer Daniel R HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056334V), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness reported that he was outside when he saw the accident airplane maneuvering about 30 to 50 ft above the ground along a river. He remarked that the airplane seemed low. The witness said that the engine sounded like it was operating normally and the airplane was not flying erratically. The witness saw the airplane bank and then it struck a powerline. There was a bright flash of light, the airplane disappeared from his view, and then he heard a loud bang. The witness went to the other side of his property and saw that the airplane was upside down on a sandbar along the river. He estimated that the powerline was about 40 to 45 ft above ground. The pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wing struts, and engine mount. The investigator in charge made several attempts to obtain a statement from the pilot. At the time this report was written, the pilot had not provided a statement pertaining to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N957DK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N957DK), registered now, S/N JA268-06-12, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JUST Highlander - Registry model: [Kretchmer Daniel R HIGHLANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/kretchmer-daniel-r-highlander) (registry code 056334V) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA268-06-12 - Year built: 2015 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Melcap LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Airport: NA - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: KCLL, 4 nm away - METAR: KCLL 272053Z 01006KT 10SM CLR 19/01 A3036 ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202079. 1.7 MB in all. - Memorandum of record-witness (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19689412&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-witness_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19933329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photos-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19933778&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-6120-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.