Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

July 21, 2025 · Van S Aircraft RV-14 A · N21KL

Lowell, MI

Overview

Report Status
Factual report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 21, 2025
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Lowell, MI
Aircraft
Van S Aircraft RV-14 A (2024)
Tail Number
N21KL
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CEN25FA270

On July 21, 2025, about 1627 eastern daylight time, a Van’s Aircraft RV-14A airplane, N21KL, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lowell, Michigan. The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The purpose of the flight was for the pilot and the passenger to view N471NP (a Van’s Aircraft RV-6 airplane), that was for sale, at the Lowell City Airport (24C), Lowell, Michigan. The passenger was interested in potentially purchasing the airplane. A preliminary review of ADS-B data showed that the pilot departed in the airplane at 1433 from his home base at the Alpena County Regional Airport (APN), Alpena, Michigan. The airplane landed at 1456 at the Oscoda/Wurtsmith Airport (OSC), Oscoda, Michigan, and the passenger boarded the airplane. The airplane departed from OSC at 1532 and flew southwest to 24C, which is a non-towered airport. Upon approaching 24C, the airplane flew to the west of the Flat River. The ADS-B data showed that as the airplane flew over Lincoln Lake Road, it then turned to the south. Shortly after turning south, the airplane continued in a descending turn toward the east. The airplane impacted a storage unit building about 0.43 miles from the approach end of runway 12 at 24C. When the airplane impacted the storage unit building, an explosion occurred. A postimpact fire consumed the wreckage and the storage unit building. The wreckage was recovered from the accident site, and it was transported to a secure location. According to a witness, he and his son observed the airplane inflight while they were driving in a vehicle near 24C on Vergennes Street. While the airplane was in the descending turn and prior to impact, they did not observe any smoke or flames emitting from the airplane, nor did they hear any abnormal engine noises such as sputtering or backfiring. The two-seat experimental airplane was built from a kit in 2024 by the pilot, who in addition to holding a private pilot certificate (airplane single engine land), he also held a repairman certificate (experimental aircraft builder for the accident airplane). The passenger held a private pilot certificate (airplane single engine land) and an airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming Engines YIO-390-EXP248 reciprocating engine, part of the Thunderbolt experimental engine series. The airplane was also equipped with a Whirlwind Propellers 300-3B/A-72 three-blade controllable pitch composite propeller. A preliminary review of meteorological data for the accident location and time did not reveal any meteorological areas of concern. The calculated density altitude for the closest meteorological reporting station was 2,266 ft.

Full Narrative

On July 21, 2025, about 1627 eastern daylight time, a Van’s Aircraft RV-14A airplane, N21KL, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lowell, Michigan. The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The purpose of the flight was for the pilot and the passenger to view N471NP (a Van’s Aircraft RV-6 airplane), that was for sale, at the Lowell City Airport (24C), Lowell, Michigan. The passenger was interested in potentially purchasing the airplane. A preliminary review of ADS-B data showed that the pilot departed in the airplane at 1433 from his home base at the Alpena County Regional Airport (APN), Alpena, Michigan. The airplane landed at 1456 at the Oscoda/Wurtsmith Airport (OSC), Oscoda, Michigan, and the passenger boarded the airplane. The airplane departed from OSC at 1532 and flew southwest to 24C, which is a non-towered airport. Upon approaching 24C, the airplane flew to the west of the Flat River. The ADS-B data showed that as the airplane flew over Lincoln Lake Road, it then turned to the south. Shortly after turning south, the airplane continued in a descending turn toward the east. The airplane impacted a storage unit building about 0.43 miles from the approach end of runway 12 at 24C. When the airplane impacted the storage unit building, an explosion occurred. A postimpact fire consumed the wreckage and the storage unit building. The wreckage was recovered from the accident site, and it was transported to a secure location. According to a witness, he and his son observed the airplane inflight while they were driving in a vehicle near 24C on Vergennes Street. While the airplane was in the descending turn and prior to impact, they did not observe any smoke or flames emitting from the airplane, nor did they hear any abnormal engine noises such as sputtering or backfiring. The two-seat experimental airplane was built from a kit in 2024 by the pilot, who in addition to holding a private pilot certificate (airplane single engine land), he also held a repairman certificate (experimental aircraft builder for the accident airplane). The passenger held a private pilot certificate (airplane single engine land) and an airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming Engines YIO-390-EXP248 reciprocating engine, part of the Thunderbolt experimental engine series. The airplane was also equipped with a Whirlwind Propellers 300-3B/A-72 three-blade controllable pitch composite propeller. A preliminary review of meteorological data for the accident location and time did not reveal any meteorological areas of concern. The calculated density altitude for the closest meteorological reporting station was 2,266 ft.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:27 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftVan S Aircraft RV-14 A
Tail NumberN21KL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57 F
Altimeter30.08 inHg
Observation Time15:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data