Fisher RV-7A accident near Brodhead, Wisconsin, July 26, 2009
On July 26, 2009 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Fisher RV-7A, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N257RV, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Brodhead, Wisconsin (Brodhead Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2009 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Brodhead, Wisconsin · Brodhead Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fisher RV-7A, amateur-built
- Registration
- N257RV · registry record · serial 73086
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane touched down and bounced during landing on the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed during about the third bounce when it impacted a rise in the runway. The airplane nosed over and came to rest on its canopy and vertical stabilizer, resulting in substantial damage to the stabilizer and firewall. The pilot stated that he landed "hot." The pilot and passenger were uninjured.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 423 hours in all; 152 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 375 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 25, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 151.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 6, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-M1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C73 Dixon IL at 4:35 pm
- Destination: C37 Brodhead WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,430 ft by 155 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from JVL, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.