Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SportCruiser accident near Waynesville, Ohio, July 15, 2012
On July 15, 2012 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SportCruiser, registered N516JG, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Waynesville, Ohio (Private Airstrip 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 airplane's collision with fence posts during an aborted takeoff due to a sudden change in wind direction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2012 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Waynesville, Ohio · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SportCruiser · all SportCruisers on the register
- Registration
- N516JG · no longer on the register · serial 08SC224
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the accident occurred while he was departing his private airstrip. He stated that he noticed an “abrupt change” in the wind direction about halfway down the runway during the takeoff roll. The wind direction reportedly shifted from a left crosswind to a tailwind condition. The pilot stated that he decided to abort the takeoff because he was unsure if the airplane would clear trees located off the departure end of the runway. He attempted to steer the airplane into an adjacent field, but it impacted two fence posts hidden in shrubbery before coming to rest. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Although the weather data obtained from a nearby observing station established that the wind direction was variable, it did not corroborate the pilot's observation of a tailwind condition. However, there were several thunderstorms in the vicinity of the accident site that could have resulted in localized wind changes that were not detected by the weather observing station.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 230 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 146 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 444 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Three Wings, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Waynesville OH at 5:30 pm
- Destination: PVT Waynesville OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 5:30 pm from KMGY, 6 miles away
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.