# NTSB CEN26LA125: Vans RV-12IS, N46TB, Appleton, WI, February 24, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 24, 2026, 09:48 local (15:48 UTC) - Place: Appleton, WI - Coordinates: 44.258284, -88.520686 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2583&lon=-88.5207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 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): 202503 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202503/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202503 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA125 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed during landing and exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the runway. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-circling (IFR): Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that during the landing, the wind shifted from a headwind and the airspeed dropped. He directed the pilot receiving instruction to increase engine power; however, the pilot’s response was delayed. The flight instructor attempted to correct by adding engine power, but the airplane stalled and landed hard. During the hard landing, the left wing struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and lift strut. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot receiving instruction was landing the airplane on runway 12 with wind from 180° at 15 knots, gusting to 22 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46TB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46TB), registered now, S/N 12205, built 2025 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS AIRCRAFT INC RV-12IS - Registry model: [Vans RV-12IS](https://openairdocs.org/model/vans-rv-12is) (registry code 069002L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-is-series) (registry code 55593, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12205 - Year built: 2025 - Airframe hours: 60 - Engines: Rotax 912is Sport 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pilotsmith Flight Academy, doing business as Cavu Flight Academy - Registered owner: Fly Barely LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: UNU, Juneau, WI - Destination: ATW, Appleton, WI - Airport: ATW, Appleton International, runway 12, 6,502 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 2; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 16, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 400 total, 59 in this make and model - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 300 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.64 inHg - Observed at: KATW - METAR: ATW 241545Z 18015G22KT 10SM BKN120 M03/M09 A2964= ## 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 20260224010959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260224010959A), Feb 24, 2026: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12IS, Appleton, WI, Substantial damage. PIC of the aircraft was providing flight instruction in a RV-12. During the landing transition over the runway numbers, the airspeed dropped as the student… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202503. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20400414&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 429 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20400574&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. --- 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.