# NTSB WPR23FA286: Risen 915 iS, N2442, Glendive, MT, July 28, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: July 28, 2023, 14:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Glendive, MT · 1.5 miles from Dawson Community Airport - Coordinates: 47.13017, -104.77288 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1302&lon=-104.7729&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 192733 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23FA286 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192733/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192733 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA286 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin. ## 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: [A Van Nierop RISEN 915IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05641QC), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [A Van Nierop RISEN 915IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05641QC), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [A Van Nierop RISEN 915IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=05641QC), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [A Van Nierop RISEN 915IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05641QC), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [A Van Nierop RISEN 915IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05641QC), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight in his experimental, amateur-built airplane, and the accident occurred on day nine of the flight. The airport manager at the departure airport reported that he assisted the pilot with fueling the airplane with about 15 gallons of fuel. He reported that the engine sounded like it was at full power during takeoff; however, the airplane appeared to climb slower than he expected to about 300-400 ft above ground level (agl). The main landing gear were up but the nose gear appeared to be partially extended and had not completely retracted. He watched the airplane maintain a low altitude at a low airspeed until he observed a “wing drop,” and the airplane subsequently made two turns in a “flat spin” with about a 45-60° nose-down attitude as it descended behind terrain. Postaccident examination revealed no anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Damage signatures and witness accounts indicated that the engine was producing power at the time of the accident. The debris path was consistent with a steep impact angle. Evidence suggests that the pilot failed to maintain airspeed during the climb, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall/spin. The pilot had texted the aircraft kit manufacturer that he was having problems with the engine overheating; however, had made modifications to the cooling system that appeared to be successful, according to his texts with the owner of a similar airplane. The airplane’s emergency parachute was found deployed at the accident site. Since the parachute was unfurled, it is likely that the parachute deployment was the result of ground contact. Evidence suggests that the pilot failed to maintain airspeed during the climb, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall/spin. The nose landing gear did not retract fully after takeoff. Although this may have created a distraction for the pilot that resulted in a loss of airspeed while he was troubleshooting the nose landing gear retraction, the investigation was not able to determine the reason for the pilot’s loss of control. ## Factual narrative The pilot’s long cross-country journey was delayed due to maintenance issues with the airplane that presented themselves as the flight progressed. The pilot reported to the airplane kit manufacturer via text messages that the airplane was having an overheating issue during higher operating air temperatures on the ground, during taxi, and climbing after takeoff. The pilot had been diagnosing performance issues and made modifications to the cooling system. He texted the owner of a similar make and model airplane before the accident flight and indicated that the modifications had worked. No other information was available in regard to the engine overheating. There was no mention of overheating in the squawks or airplane service records. A flight logbook was not recovered. On July 28, 2023, about 1410 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Risen 915 iS, N2442, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Glendive, Montana. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight that originated in Georgia eight days before the accident and had proceeded to Felts Field (SFF), Spokane, Washington. The day before the accident, the pilot departed SFF and flew to the Dawson Community Airport (GDV), Glendive, Montana. The pilot initially had planned to attend the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Air Show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. However, the pilot mentioned to a witness that he was abandoning his attempt to make the airshow due to operational delays. The pilot’s destination when he departed GDV is unknown. The GDV airport manager reported that he assisted the pilot with fueling the airplane with about 15 gallons of fuel, and he mentioned that the pilot was in good spirits. He expected that the pilot intended to do a fly-by the airport after takeoff to demonstrate the speed of the airplane, which had a cruise speed just under 200 knots. The airport manager reported that he observed the airplane depart runway 12 at 1408. . The engine sounded like it was at full power during takeoff; however, the airplane appeared to climb slower than he expected to about 300-400 ft agl. The main landing gear were up but the nose gear appeared to be partially extended and had not completely retracted. He watched the airplane maintain a low altitude at a low airspeed until he observed a “wing drop,” and the airplane subsequently made two turns in a “flat spin” with about a 45-60° nose-down attitude as it descended behind terrain. A second witness, who was located near the accident site, reported observing the airplane flying low and slow in a turn at the time of the accident; it appeared that the airplane was returning to the airport. The witness stated that he heard a loud pop and then observed a wing drop before the airplane entered a rotating nose-low attitude until it disappeared behind terrain. Subsequently, he observed smokeoriginating from the area where he had lost sight of the airplane. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Department of Justice Forensic Science Division Montana State Chief Medical Examiner, Billings, Montana, which listed the cause of death as “blunt force injuries.” Toxicology testing performed by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory did not identify any substances that are generally considered impairing. The pilot's logbook was not recovered. This pilot reported civil flight experience that included 492 total and 15 hours in last six months as of exam dated 5/17/2023. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted terrain about 1.5 miles southeast of GDV in a farmer’s field. The airplane was mostly consumed by a postimpact fire. All major structural components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site, including the fuel tanks, fuel system, and flight controls; no debris path was observed. Examination of these components revealed no anomalies. The main and nosewheel landing gear were mostly consumed by fire and not able to be functionally tested. Windshield fragments were found 30 ft forward of the nose. Carbon fiber airplane pieces were scattered aft of the tail for about 30 ft. The debris path was consistent with a steep impact angle. The emergency parachute had been discharged, but the chute had not unfurled. No track data of the accident flight was available. Flight control continuity was established and traced from the control inputs in the flight deck to their respective control surfaces in the wings and tail. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed it had sustained significant damage from the impact and the postimpact fire. Each of the cylinders passed the manufacturer’s hardness test to determine if the engine had experienced operational overheating. The examination found no evidence of overheating nor were any preimpact mechanical anomalies identified in the engine or accessories that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2442](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2442-2024-07-17), registration cancelled 2024-07-17, S/N 26, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RISEN 915 iS - Registry model: [A Van Nierop RISEN 915IS](https://openairdocs.org/model/a-van-nierop-risen-915is) (registry code 05641QC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 915 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-915-is-series) (registry code 55620, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 26 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 60 - Engines: ROTAX 915 iS 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, July 19, 2023 - Airport: GDV, Dawson Community, runway 12, 5,704 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 500 total, 60 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: KGDV, 1 nm away - METAR: KGDV 281956Z AUTO VRB06KT 10SM SCT070 28/09 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP195 T02780094 TSNO ## 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 20230728011189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230728011189A), Jul 28, 2023: A Van Nierop RISEN 915IS, Glendive, MT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On July 28, 2023 at 1415 MST, experimental aircraft, risen 915 superveloce, crashed approximately 1 mile from Dawson county airport (gdv). The aircraft was… ## Docket (15 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192733. 453 MB in all. - Mor - witness statements (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18604077&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N2442%20fatal%20email%20statments-Rel.pdf - Route of flight N2442 (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18624092&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Route%20of%20flight%20N2442-Rel.pdf - Pictures of texts about overheating concerns - provided by kit manufacturer. (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 727 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18634667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20overheating%20issues%20TEXTs%20N2442-Rel.pdf - Weight and balance (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18637252&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weight%20and%20Balance%20N2442-Rel.pdf - Risen (airframe) specification sheet (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 573 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18623695&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Risen_912-915_Data-Sheet-Risen_metrics_US%20(1)-Rel.pdf - Airframe logbook (item 6, PDF, 6 pages, 129 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18878012&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20Logbook%20N2442_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine logbook (item 7, PDF, 6 pages, 145 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18878558&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20N2442_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Propeller logbook (item 8, PDF, 5 pages, 12.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18878885&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Propeller%20Logbook%20N2442_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airframe parachute manual (item 9, PDF, 14 pages, 157 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18879108&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20Parachute%20Manual%20N2442_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB on scene examination report (item 10, PDF, 7 pages, 774 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18891594&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20On%20scene%20Examinatin%20Report%20WPR23FA286%20JC-Rel.pdf - NTSB engine examination factual summary (item 11, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18878460&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Engine%20Examination%20Factual%20Summary%20WPR23FA286%20JC-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 12, PDF, 4 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18637765&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20pic%20array%20WPR23FA286-Rel.pdf - Toxicology report (item 13, PDF, 1 page, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18831458&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=TOX%20Nierop%20Redact-Rel.pdf - Recorders lab correspondence - garmin G3X (item 14, PDF, 3 pages, 746 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18666251&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23FA286%20(Glendive,%20MT)%20Recording%20Device%20No%20Data%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 15, PDF, 1 page, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18796952&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Wreckage%20WPR23FA286%20next%20of%20kin_Redacted-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.