Amateur-built JD-2 accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 22, 2025
On July 22, 2025 at about 7:32 pm local time, a 2010 amateur-built JD-2, registered N71AW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman airport). It was an air show or air race 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 failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2025 · about 7:32 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built JD-2, built 2010
- Registration
- N71AW · registry record · serial 1123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying in the Homebuilt Showcase during the EAA AirVenture air show. The pilot reported that while landing with a variable tailwind the airplane touched down about 2,500 ft down the runway, bounced, and landed hard. The pilot applied brakes, and the right main tire began to squeal. The airplane departed the landing surface to the left. The right main landing gear collapsed, the nose landing gear separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts and the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
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 landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,789 hours in all; 593 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,721 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 6, 2025
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 589.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 8, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-41A6 (piston); 1,976 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36R, 8,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KOSH
Weather report (METAR): KOSH 221853Z 15010KT 10SM SCT029 28/21 A3005
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Right Side of the Airplane
Photograph 2 – Right Wing Tip
Photograph 3 – Instrument PanelThe 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 October 2, 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 | Pilot Statement Provided to FAA | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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.