NTSB Releases Final Report on Rob Holland Accident

50-year-old was one of the top aerobatic pilots in the world.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, July 06, 2026 at 03:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

NTSB logo and image [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB determined that aerobatic pilot Rob Holland's fatal 2025 accident was caused by the failure of a custom elevator counterweight plug, resulting in a jammed elevator and loss of control during landing.
The investigation revealed the plugs, part of an adjustable balance tube requested by Holland, were a "short-term solution" with no specified torque values, and the installed plugs differed from the manufacturer's design by lacking an O-ring.
Following the accident, the aircraft manufacturer issued a mandatory safety notice for similar MXS and MX2 airplanes to modify their adjustable balance tubes, indicating a recognition of the design flaw.

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National Transportation Safety Board authorities investigating the 2025 accident that killed aerobatic pilot Rob Holland have determined the failure of a custom counterweight plug resulted in a jammed elevator and subsequent loss of control during landing.

Holland, 50, was one of the top aerobatic pilots in the world. He held an ATP certificate and had more than 15,000 hours of flight experience.