Just Aircraft Highlander accident near Forest Lake, Minnesota, September 11, 2025
On September 11, 2025 at about 8:33 pm local time, a 2025 Just Aircraft Highlander, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N442DU, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Forest Lake, Minnesota (Forest Lake Airport). It was a flight test 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 directional control of the airplane during a gusty crosswind landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2025 · about 8:33 pm local time
- Place
- Forest Lake, Minnesota · Forest Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Just Aircraft Highlander, built 2025, amateur-built
- Registration
- N442DU · registry record · serial JAESC00107
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a flight test of the experimental amateur-built airplane. He was returning to make a full stop landing when during the landing flare a wind gust from the right caused the airplane to drift left and depart off the left runway edge. The airplane then descended an embankment and nosed over. The upper portion of the rudder and a right-wing lift strut sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Based on the reported wind direction and speed at an airport located about 13 nautical miles from the accident site, there was likely a gusting left crosswind component of about 4 to 6 knots at the time of the accident.
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 on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 160 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 160 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 2, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 27, 2025; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 10 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 25D Forest Lake MN at 7:49 pm
- Destination: 25D Forest Lake MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from KOEO, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOEO 112035Z AUTO 12014G18KT 10SM SCT031 SCT038 24/15 A3020 RMK AO2 T02440149 PWINO
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 – Airplane after it was recovered to an upright position at the accident site.
Photograph 2 – Rudder Damage
Photograph 3 – Right-Wing Lift Strut DamageThe 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 January 15, 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 | Meteorological Data | PDF, 3 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.