Amateur-built JODEL F11 A accident near Marathon, Texas, March 26, 2016
On March 26, 2016 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2002 amateur-built JODEL F11 A, registered N3068M, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Marathon, Texas (Los Muertos 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 failure to conduct a go-around in a timely manner, which resulted in impact with trees and a powerline.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2016 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marathon, Texas · Los Muertos · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built JODEL F11 A NO SERIES, built 2002
- Registration
- N3068M · no longer on the register · serial 5279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot stated that he was landing in the experimental amateur-built airplane at his 1,600-ft-long private runway when he attempted a "late" go-around. The airplane impacted trees, a powerline, and terrain, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 13, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75 (piston); 2,100 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FST Fort Stockton TX at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 6TE2 Marathon TX
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 35, 1,560 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from E38
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 4, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.