Jabiru J230-SP accident near Delavan, Wisconsin, May 24, 2009
On May 24, 2009 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Jabiru J230-SP, registered N685J, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Delavan, Wisconsin (Lake Lawn Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2009 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Delavan, Wisconsin · Lake Lawn Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Jabiru J230-SP
- Registration
- N685J · no longer on the register · serial 622
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to the accident, the pilot had performed three takeoffs and landings on runway 36. During the fourth landing, the airplane began to veer to the left after touchdown. The pilot applied "hard right rudder which had little effect until the nosewheel touched down." After the nose wheel touched down, the airplane began to turn to the right; however, the left wing impacted trees. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing was partially separated from the airframe and the composite fuselage was cracked along the longitudinal axis. The pilot reported that he had 1,370 total flight hours and 12 hours in the accident airplane. The pilot stated that the accident airplane was not equipped with toe brakes, which was different than the airplanes he had been used to flying.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
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
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,370 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,370 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 17, 2009
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 39 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 6, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWK Palwaukee IL at 5:30 pm
- Destination: C59 Delavan WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,423 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.