Amateur-built ONEX accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 25, 2020
On June 25, 2020 at about 4:45 pm local time, a 2017 amateur-built ONEX, registered N951X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Minneapolis, Minnesota (Anoka County-Blaine Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's hard landing on the airplane's nosewheel, which jammed the steering, and resulted in a runway excursion and impact with runway lights.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2020 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · Anoka County-Blaine Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ONEX, built 2017
- Registration
- N951X · registry record · serial ONX0028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he departed in a single-seat homebuilt airplane; however, the airplane did not feel "stable", so he elected to abort the takeoff. During touchdown, the airplane's nose landing gear hit the runway first. After the nose landing gear struck the runway, the rudder was jammed, and the airplane departed the runway surface. The airplane struck a runway light before coming to a stop. Examination of the airplane found that firewall damage had impacted and jammed the nosewheel steering and rudder controls. Damage to the airplane's left-wing leading edge, and substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer, and elevator were also noted.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 884 hours in all; 5.3 in this make and model; 1.2 in the last 90 days; 1.2 in the last 30 days; 849 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 2, 2020
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 23, 2019
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 2300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANE Minneapolis MN
- Destination: ANE Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from KANE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N951X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.