Amateur-built JABIRU SP accident near Columbia, Illinois, August 17, 2011
On August 17, 2011 at about 10:45 pm local time, a amateur-built JABIRU SP, registered N284E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Columbia, Illinois (Sackman Field). It was an instructional 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
Separation of the right main wheel during landing rollout for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2011 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, Illinois · Sackman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built JABIRU SP
- Registration
- N284E · registry record · serial 284
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that, during the landing rollout, the airplane veered to the right and exited the runway. The airplane subsequently encountered a berm and came to rest in an adjacent corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. A postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear wheel had separated from the airplane. The components that retained the main wheel had separated from the axle and were not recovered. Visual examination of the bolt attachment hole on the landing gear strut axle did not reveal any damage. The reason for the wheel separation could not be determined.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll)
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Wheel/ski/float › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 649 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 527 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2011
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 389 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 21, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,036 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 2200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H49 Columbia IL at 9:30 pm
- Destination: H49 Columbia IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,450 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from CPS, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.