Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while landing on a turf runway.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot was performing a landing after a solo flight. He attempted to land on runway 27 twice but there were trucks on the runway. He performed a go-around and switched to runway 18 which is a turf/grass runway. Immediately following touchdown, the airplane hit a bump on the runway and the airplane to become airborne again. The airplane porposied twice and the nose landing gear contacted the ground and collapsed which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage.
The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN25LA345 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 26, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Hartford, Wisconsin
- Nearest airport
- Hartford Muni (HXF)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built RV-12IS
- N-number
- N18HS
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2024
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.