Jihlavan KP accident near Crete, Nebraska, May 10, 2009
On May 10, 2009, a Jihlavan KP, registered N21KP, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Crete, Nebraska (Crete Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 2009
- Place
- Crete, Nebraska · Crete Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Jihlavan KP 5 ASA
- Registration
- N21KP · registry record · serial 5115133K
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was departing Runway 35. Immediately after rotation, the airplane turned to the left and he was unable to maintain runway heading or alignment with the application of corrective control inputs. The airplane impacted terrain adjacent to the runway in a left-wing-low configuration and rotated to the right resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot and passenger were not injured. An examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing was wrinkled, the right horizontal stabilizer separated, and that the firewall was pushed up and aft. An inspection of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded safe operation of the airplane.
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
- Ground collision during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 114 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 23, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 112 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CEK Crete NE
- Destination: CEK Crete NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,201 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from KLNK, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.