Amateur-built RV-7A accident near Manchester, Michigan, August 1, 2008
On August 1, 2008 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-7A, registered N5025G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Manchester, Michigan. It was a personal 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 inadequate flare during landing. Contributing to the accident was the uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2008 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Manchester, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-7A
- Registration
- N5025G · no longer on the register · serial 71591
- 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 during the landing he let the "nose come down and used brakes which caused the low clearance gear leg to dig in and begin bending." The airplane's propeller and wing subsequently contacted the "undulating" grass strip. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the accident flight. The pilot's safety recommendation was to replace the accident gear leg with the "new revision ... from Vans [aircraft] which has greater ground clearance."
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area condition › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 160 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 154 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,899 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mazda Rotary (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Destination: 75G Manchester MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N5025G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.