Just Aircraft LLC HIGHLANDER accident near West Cobb, Arkansas, September 29, 2021
On September 29, 2021 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2008 Just Aircraft LLC HIGHLANDER, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N419SD, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near West Cobb, Arkansas (Byrd'S Backcountry Airstrip 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 airplane’s encounter with gusting wind conditions and low-level wind shear on final approach, which resulted in a loss of control, an aerodynamic stall, and a subsequent hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2021 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- West Cobb, Arkansas · Byrd'S Backcountry Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Just Aircraft LLC HIGHLANDER NO SERIES, built 2008, amateur-built · all HIGHLANDERs on the register
- Registration
- N419SD · no longer on the register · serial JAESC0129
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he departed from the airport to practice a short takeoff and landing (commonly known as “STOL”) race circuit in preparation for a race that was going to occur at the airport. As the pilot was on approach for landing, he noticed the wind speed had increased while he was turning base to final at 60 ft agl. The pilot had a 16-mph buffer above the airplane’s aerodynamic stall speed, with two notches of flaps applied, and a 15° bank turn. The airplane was then “hit by a gust” that elevated the right wing to about 30° of bank. The pilot attempted to correct the high bank angle with no success. He reported “all of my lift disappeared,” and the airplane became uncontrollable at about 55 ft agl. The pilot concluded that a “large tail wind shear” aerodynamically stalled the airplane, and he was unable to recover at the low altitude with the various obstacles and structures present on the STOL race circuit course. The airplane “pancaked” and came to rest upright in a field, next to a fence line. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of meteorological data showed that gusting wind conditions and low-level wind shear were likely present in the area at the time of the accident.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Hard landing during landing
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of lift during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Simulated/training event during approach
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Attain/maintain not possible
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,500 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 4,900 as pilot in command; 600 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 14, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,247 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 11, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 291 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07/2, 2,500 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KFYV, 29 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFYV 291853Z 20007KT 170V240 10SM BKN044 29/18 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP117 T02890178
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 18, 2022. 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 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Additional Documents | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Factual Report | PDF, 10 pages | 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.