Airborne XT912 accident near Newark, Illinois, May 17, 2009
On May 17, 2009 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Airborne XT912 (weight-shift aircraft), registered N912LM, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Newark, Illinois (Cushing Field Ltd 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 inadequate preflight preparation, which led to the inability to accelerate to takeoff speed after encountering wet and soft runway conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2009 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Newark, Illinois · Cushing Field Ltd Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airborne XT912
- Registration
- N912LM · registry record · serial XT912-31
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff from a grass runway, the aircraft's landing gear encountered a wet and soft area of runway. Due to the encounter with the wet and soft terrain, the pilot was unable to get the aircraft airborne. The pilot said that the aircraft "slowed down very fast" and the left wing tip impacted terrain. The wing sustained substantial damage and was reported to be "not repairable."
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
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › (general) › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Wet › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Soft › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: sport pilot
- Flight time: 259 hours in all; 228 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 10, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 992 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0C8 Newark IL
- Destination: 0C8 Newark IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
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.