J&J Ultralights SEAWING accident near Golden, Missouri, December 30, 2021
On December 30, 2021 at about 9:14 pm local time, a 2002 J&J Ultralights SEAWING (weight-shift aircraft), registered N285SW, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Golden, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control while aggressively maneuvering at low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 2021 · about 9:14 pm local time
- Place
- Golden, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- J&J Ultralights SEAWING, built 2002 · all SEAWINGs on the register
- Registration
- N285SW · registry record · serial 10001234582
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noncertificated pilot departed on his first flight in his recently purchased weight-shift control (WSC) aircraft. After takeoff, the pilot made a steep left bank turn that included a rapid climb and descent. The pilot leveled the aircraft and made a second steep bank turn with a rapid climb, then the aircraft entered a dive and impacted a house. The wings, empennage, and fuselage sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot completed two flights in a different WSC aircraft about 6 months before the accident. According to the previous owner, the accident aircraft stalled more abruptly than other WSC aircraft and a substantial amount of altitude was required to recover from a stall. Although toxicology testing indicated the pilot used cannabis at some point before the accident flight, the detected blood levels could not be used to infer the level of impairment. Based on the circumstances of the accident, the effect of cannabis usage was determined not to be a likely factor in 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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 207 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 24, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,053 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MO32 Golden MO at 9:13 pm
- Destination: MO32 Golden MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KFWB, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFWB 302115Z AUTO 24004KT 10SM CLR 16/07 A2977 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN22LA087.