Vans Aircraft RV14 accident near Parker, Colorado, August 13, 2025
On August 13, 2025 at about 4:40 pm local time, a 2025 Vans Aircraft RV14, registered N29JM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Parker, Colorado (Everitt 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
Separation of the right landing gear wheel assembly during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 2025 · about 4:40 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Parker, Colorado · Everitt · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vans Aircraft RV14, built 2025
- Registration
- N29JM · registry record · serial 141081
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the flight and approach for landing were uneventful. He executed a wheel landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane without any difficulties. However, during touchdown, he heard a “thunk” which, in hindsight, was the right landing gear wheel assembly separating from the strut. The airplane continued about 35 feet until the right landing gear strut contacted the ground and the airplane veered to the right and nosed over. The airframe sustained damage to the left wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. A post-accident examination of the airplane confirmed that the right wheel assembly had separated from the landing gear strut. The four attachment bolts were retained by the wheel assembly and were bent. The corresponding nuts were not recovered. Damage to the landing gear strut was consistent with contact to the ground following separation of the wheel assembly. No evidence of a failure of the landing gear strut was observed. Similarly, there was no indication that the attachment hardware failed to perform as intended. It is possible that the bolt torque was insufficient on installation or that the bolts loosened for another reason during operation. Once compromised, the nuts ultimately came off the bolts which allowed the wheel assembly to separate from the 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
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Unknown/Not determined other cases naming the landing gear
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,710 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 5,400 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 20, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 15, 2025; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming YIO-390 (piston); 15 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PUB Pueblo CO at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 1CO8 Parker CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KAPA, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAPA 131653Z 00000KT 10SM FEW140 FEW220 31/02 A3012
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 – Aft fuselage (FAA photo)
Photograph 2 – Rudder (FAA photo)
Photograph 3 – Vertical stabilizer / rudder (FAA photo)
Photograph 4 – Left wing (FAA photo)
Photograph 5 – Separated wheel assembly (FAA photo)The 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on March 19, 2026. 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 Photos | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector Statement | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N29JM on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming YIO-390 333 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Everitt Airport · nearest airport
- Pueblo Memorial · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,485 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN25LA328.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.