Sabre 2PL accident near Harrison, Nebraska, June 16, 2009
On June 16, 2009 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Sabre 2PL (weight-shift aircraft), registered N2811P, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Harrison, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of directional control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2009 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Harrison, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sabre 2PL
- Registration
- N2811P · no longer on the register · serial S020648
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The sport pilot was performing a takeoff from a private grass strip for his first solo flight in a weight-shift airplane. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane entered an uncommanded left bank. The pilot attempted to level the wing, but was unable to regain control of the weight-shift airplane. The weight-shift airplane continued a left turn, descended, and impacted terrain. The cause of the uncommanded left bank could not be determined. Due to the remote location, an examination of the wreckage was not conducted by a federal agency.
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 in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 5, 2001
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Harrison NE at 11:30 am
- Destination: Harrison NE
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 36
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:00 pm
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.