# NTSB ERA25LA196: Chris Wallen/Michael Pliske Just Acft Highlander, N788MP, Brasstown, NC, April 30, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 30, 2025, 10:29 UTC
- Place: Brasstown, NC · Private Grass Strip - Payne's Landing
- Coordinates: 35, -83 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0000&lon=-83.0000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200116
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA196
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200116/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200116
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA196

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadvertent application of brake pressure during landing, which resulted in a nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Chris Wallen/Michael Pliske JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056406A), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Chris Wallen/Michael Pliske JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=056406A), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Chris Wallen/Michael Pliske JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056406A), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot said his feet were inadvertently too high on the rudder pedals on landing which resulted in his inadvertent application of brake pressure. As such, when the airplane touched down, it nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, empennage and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N788MP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N788MP), registered now, S/N JA612-01-21, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHRIS WALLEN/MICHAEL PLISKE JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER
- Registry model: [Chris Wallen/Michael Pliske JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/chris-wallen-michael-pliske-just-acft-highlander) (registry code 056406A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: JA612-01-21
- Year built: 2022
- Airframe hours: 28
- Engines: Rotax 916iS3A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, March 1, 2025
- Airport: None, Payne's Landing, runway 36, 2,250 × 80 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Data recorder, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; military, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review May 9, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 19,050 total, 28.7 in this make and model, 1,077 as pilot in command, 125.3 in the last 90 days, 6.6 in the last 30 days, 3.4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: KRHP, 10 nm away
- METAR: METAR KRHP 301429Z AUTO 19007KT 10SM BKN023 BKN027 23/16 A3022

## 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 20250430004569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250430004569A), Apr 30, 2025: Chris Wallen/Michael Pliske JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, Brasstown, NC, Substantial damage. April 30, 2025, pilot was operating[privacy data omitted]in the vicinity of [privacy data omitted] (grass strip area). Upon landing, pilot stated he had his…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200116. 11.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 10.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18806239&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report_N788MP_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 591 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18806745&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%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.

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