Amateur-built DERJAGER D IX accident near East Liverpool, Ohio, July 7, 2011
On July 7, 2011 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DERJAGER D IX, registered N7808M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near East Liverpool, Ohio (Columbiana County Airport). 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
The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a porpoised landing and propeller contact with the runway, which caused an in-flight disintegration of the propeller during the go-around, and subsequent collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2011 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- East Liverpool, Ohio · Columbiana County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DERJAGER D IX
- Registration
- N7808M · no longer on the register · serial 97
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had recently purchased the amateur-built airplane and had little experience with the flight and ground handling characteristics of the airplane. During the accident flight, while landing, the airplane porpoised, and the propeller struck the runway surface. The pilot aborted the landing attempt, and when the airplane was about 100 feet above the ground, the propeller disintegrated and the engine began to vibrate violently. The pilot executed a forced landing and struck trees and the ground during the off-airport landing.
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 landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › (general) › (general) › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 26, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 24, 2011
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 02G East Liverpool OH at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 02G East Liverpool OH
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 07, 3,503 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from BVI, 12 miles away
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.