Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft, LLC J250-SP accident near Jacksonville, Texas, November 18, 2012
On November 18, 2012 at about 10:35 pm local time, a 2008 Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft, LLC J250-SP, registered N635J, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Jacksonville, Texas (Cherokee County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during initial climb following an aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin at a low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 2012 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Texas · Cherokee County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft, LLC J250-SP, built 2008
- Registration
- N635J · no longer on the register · serial 500
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident occurred during the student pilot's third solo flight. The pilot's husband, who was a commercial pilot and former naval aviator, reported that he witnessed the accident flight, which consisted of two landings. He stated that the first landing appeared to be fairly flat, consistent with an insufficient landing flare upon touchdown. After landing, the pilot taxied the airplane to the approach end of the runway for the next takeoff. On the second landing, the airplane again appeared to have a flat pitch attitude upon touchdown. The airplane bounced, which was followed by an audible increase in engine power. The airplane then entered a nose-high pitch attitude as it began a slow climb. The airplane climbed about 100 feet above the runway before the pilot's husband heard another increase in engine power and observed the airplane enter a descending left turn. The airplane still had a nose-high pitch attitude and was in a 60-degree left bank when he lost visual contact with the airplane as it descended toward hangars located on the northeast side of the airport. Two additional witnesses provided similar statements about the airplane's pitch attitude, engine operation, and flightpath following the bounce and subsequent aborted landing. These witnesses also reported seeing the airplane enter a nose-low, left spin shortly before it collided with the hangars. The postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the witnesses' descriptions of the airplane's flightpath, it is likely that the pilot flew the airplane beyond its critical angle-of-attack during the aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin at a low altitude.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 33.2 hours in all; 33.2 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7.5 in the last 30 days; 0.6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 7, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 357 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 25, 2012; 192 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300A (piston); 357 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JSO Jacksonville TX at 10:25 pm
- Destination: JSO Jacksonville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 5,006 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from JSO
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.