Van'S Aircraft RV-6 accident near New Richmond, Wisconsin, July 17, 2025
On July 17, 2025 at about 12:05 pm local time, a 1995 Van'S Aircraft RV-6, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N69NB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near New Richmond, Wisconsin (New Richmond Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed and altitude during the approach which resulted in a runway overshoot and subsequent landing in a lake. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delayed remedial action to abort the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2025 · about 12:05 pm local time
- Place
- New Richmond, Wisconsin · New Richmond Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Van'S Aircraft RV-6 NO SERIES, built 1995, amateur-built
- Registration
- N69NB · registry record · serial 21084
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the approach to the turf runway, the pilot noticed the airplane was “high and a little fast” but she thought she could correct the altitude and the airspeed. The airplane “floated down” the runway and she realized the airplane would not be able to land in the remaining runway available, so she raised the flaps. The airplane flew over the remaining runway available, landed in a lake near the departure end of the runway, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented by advancing the throttle before raising the flaps and aborting the landing before flaring when she realized the airplane was too fast on the approach.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Ditching during landing
- Evacuation during post (impact)
- Landing area overshoot during landing defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Configuration › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,016 hours in all; 1,419 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,902 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 31, 2025
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,528 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 2024; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines O-360-A1A (piston); 2,979 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1MN8 Webster MN at 10:45 am
- Destination: RNH New Richmond WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04/2, 2,006 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 am from KRNH, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRNH 171150Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 10/10 A3015 RMK AO2 70030 T01020101 10115 20088
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Overall view of the airplane after it was recovered from the water
Photograph 2 – Right side view of the airplane after it was recovered from the water
Photograph 3 – View of the right wing after the airplane was recovered from the water
Photograph 4 – View of the right wing of the airplane inside of a hangar
Photograph 5 – View of the right wing of the airplane inside of a hangarThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 5, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Airport Manager - Airplane Recovery Information | 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.