Van'S Aircraft RV-14 accident near Lowell, Michigan, July 21, 2025
On July 21, 2025 at about 8:27 pm local time, a 2024 Van'S Aircraft RV-14, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N21KL, was destroyed in an accident during approach near Lowell, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2025 · about 8:27 pm local time
- Place
- Lowell, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Van'S Aircraft RV-14 A, built 2024, amateur-built
- Registration
- N21KL · registry record · serial 140933
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 21, 2025, about 1627 eastern daylight time, a Van’s Aircraft RV-14A airplane, N21KL, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lowell, Michigan. The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The purpose of the flight was for the pilot and the passenger to view N471NP (a Van’s Aircraft RV-6 airplane), that was for sale, at the Lowell City Airport (24C), Lowell, Michigan. The passenger was interested in potentially purchasing the airplane. A preliminary review of ADS-B data showed that the pilot departed in the airplane at 1433 from his home base at the Alpena County Regional Airport (APN), Alpena, Michigan. The airplane landed at 1456 at the Oscoda/Wurtsmith Airport (OSC), Oscoda, Michigan, and the passenger boarded the airplane. The airplane departed from OSC at 1532 and flew southwest to 24C, which is a non-towered airport. Upon approaching 24C, the airplane flew to the west of the Flat River. The ADS-B data showed that as the airplane flew over Lincoln Lake Road, it then turned to the south. Shortly after turning south, the airplane continued in a descending turn toward the east. The airplane impacted a storage unit building about 0.43 miles from the approach end of runway 12 at 24C. When the airplane impacted the storage unit building, an explosion occurred. A postimpact fire consumed the wreckage and the storage unit building. The wreckage was recovered from the accident site, and it was transported to a secure location. According to a witness, he and his son observed the airplane inflight while they were driving in a vehicle near 24C on Vergennes Street. While the airplane was in the descending turn and prior to impact, they did not observe any smoke or flames emitting from the airplane, nor did they hear any abnormal engine noises such as sputtering or backfiring. The two-seat experimental airplane was built from a kit in 2024 by the pilot, who in addition to holding a private pilot certificate (airplane single engine land), he also held a repairman certificate (experimental aircraft builder for the accident airplane). The passenger held a private pilot certificate (airplane single engine land) and an airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming Engines YIO-390-EXP248 reciprocating engine, part of the Thunderbolt experimental engine series. The airplane was also equipped with a Whirlwind Propellers 300-3B/A-72 three-blade controllable pitch composite propeller. A preliminary review of meteorological data for the accident location and time did not reveal any meteorological areas of concern. The calculated density altitude for the closest meteorological reporting station was 2,266 ft.
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
- Loss of control in flight during approach defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OSC Oscoda MI at 7:32 pm
- Destination: 24C Lowell MI
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KGRR, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGRR 211953Z 09006KT 10SM SCT048 SCT250 26/14 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP182 T02610139 $
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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.