Amateur-built JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER accident near Brasstown, North Carolina, August 12, 2021
On August 12, 2021 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 2007 amateur-built JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, registered N409JD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Brasstown, North Carolina (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the left main landing gear wheel lock nuts, which resulted in a wheel separation and nose over during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2021 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brasstown, North Carolina · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER, built 2007
- Registration
- N409JD · registry record · serial JAESC0142
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel, experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that he had completed 11 takeoffs and landings to a full stop. During a subsequent takeoff, he saw that the left main landing gear wheel was wobbling. He returned to the turf airstrip and landed at the slowest possible speed; however, the left main landing gear wheel separated, and the airplane came to rest inverted on the runway. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. Three lock nuts that secured the wheel were missing and not recovered. Additionally, there was no damage or stripping on the threads of the respective studs. The pilot could not see the three nuts during preflight inspection as they were concealed by a hubcap. The mechanic that completed a condition inspection about 2 months prior to the accident, stated that the three missing nuts were light locknuts, made of an alloy. The mechanic removed the hubcap during the inspection as he had to lubricate the wheel bearing. At that time, he could see that the three nuts were secure; however, since they were already set to a torque, he did not attempt to tighten them.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 449 hours in all; 145 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 10, 2020
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,025 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 1, 2021; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914ULS (piston); 5 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from RHP, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 28, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summaries | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | 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.