Amateur-built SPARROW II accident near Jeromesville, Ohio, December 4, 2013
On December 4, 2013 at about 5:40 pm local time, a 1998 amateur-built SPARROW II, registered N5955Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Jeromesville, Ohio (Private 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 student pilot's in-flight loss of control while attempting to return to the runway following a loss of engine power. The cause of the loss of engine power could not be determined because the postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 2013 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Jeromesville, Ohio · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SPARROW II, built 1998
- Registration
- N5955Y · no longer on the register · serial CA 306
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot recalled taxi testing the airplane, which had a newly installed carburetor, before flying the airplane around his farm without incident. He believed that he took off again and that the engine lost power, but he was unsure at what point during the flight that might have occurred. He recalled that he might have been attempting to return to the runway at the time of the accident; however, he did not recall the accident. A postaccident examination of the airplane on scene did not reveal any anomalies attributable to a preimpact failure or malfunction. Although the airplane was operating in weather conditions with a chance of moderate carburetor icing at cruise power, the investigation could not determine whether the loss of power was caused by mechanical or environmental factors. The pilot received his student pilot certificate the year before the accident; however, he could not provide any record of an endorsement for solo flight, as required. Further, although he reported maintaining the airplane himself, there was no record of him holding a mechanic or repairman certificate.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- factor Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 30 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier ROTAX 582UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Jeromesville OH at 5:30 pm
- Destination: PVT Jeromesville OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from MFD, 14 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.