Van'S Aircraft RV-12 accident near Crystal, Minnesota, September 4, 2023
On September 4, 2023, a 2022 Van'S Aircraft RV-12, registered N321BT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Crystal, Minnesota (Crystal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and an overstress fracture of the nose landing gear strut.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2023
- Place
- Crystal, Minnesota · Crystal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Van'S Aircraft RV-12 iS, built 2022 · all RV-12s on the register
- Registration
- N321BT · registry record · serial 12110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing the light-sport airplane on the runway when it bounced two times. The nose gear collapsed, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest upright on the runway in a nose-down attitude. The two occupants were able to exit the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. A postaccident metallurgical examination of the fractured nose landing gear strut revealed features consistent with ductile overstress fracture. There was no evidence of any pre-existing damage to the nose landing gear strut. It is likely the pilot did not attain a proper landing flare, which resulted in the airplane bouncing twice and subsequently sustaining an overstress fracture of the nose landing strut.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Evacuation during post (impact)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Flight time: 193 hours in all; 193 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 114 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 21, 2023
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 206.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 2023; 77.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax Aircraft Engines 912iS (piston); 206 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4R5 La Pointe WI at 10:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06L/, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 7:06 pm from KMIC
Weather report (METAR): KMIC 040006Z 18006KT 10SM CLR 33/19 A2971 RMK AO2 T03330194
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 9, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB - Materials Laboratory Examination Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airplane Maintenance Records | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 5 | NTSB Party Member Form - Van's Aircraft | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.