NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Holland Accident

Agency collecting and analyzing evidence from crash.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, May 02, 2025 at 05:25 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Aerobatic performer Rob Holland dominated the Unlimited Power category in his MX Aircraft MXS. [Gary Schenaman]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB has released its preliminary report on the fatal accident involving aerobatic pilot Rob Holland, whose MXS aircraft crashed during a landing approach at Langley Air Force Base.
Witnesses described the aircraft "porpoising" twice, pitching vertically, rolling 90 degrees left, and then descending to ground impact after an initially normal approach.
A key finding from the wreckage inspection was that the left elevator counterweight plug, part of the aircraft's custom aerobatic modification, was not installed and showed signs of contact with the horizontal stabilizer.
The NTSB stresses that this information is preliminary, and the investigation into the probable cause of the accident is still ongoing.

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The preliminary report on the accident that killed aerobatic pilot Rob Holland has been released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

On April 24 Holland, an award-winning aerobatic pilot, was flying his performance aircraft, an MX Aircraft tech PTY LTD MXS from Smyrna Airport (KMQY) in Tennessee, and was destined for Langley Air Force Base (KLF) in Hampton, Virginia, to perform in the Air Power Over Hampton Roads airshow scheduled for the following weekend. The show went on as scheduled, with a moment of silence to honor Holland.