Lockheed 12 accident near Jackson, Georgia, June 17, 2024
On June 17, 2024 at about 11:49 pm local time, a 1936 Lockheed 12, registered N2072, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Jackson, Georgia (Seven Lakes Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the right brake line, which resulted in a loss of right brake effectiveness during the landing roll and a subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2024 · about 11:49 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, Georgia · Seven Lakes Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lockheed 12 A, built 1936 · all 12s on the register
- Registration
- N2072 · registry record · serial 1208
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, 10 days before the accident, the tailwheel-equipped airplane underwent maintenance on the right main landing gear strut, which required disconnection and subsequent reinstallation of the right brake line. Following the maintenance of the strut, the brake system was serviced and no anomalies or leaks were observed. The pilot reported that the preflight inspection, engine run-up, and flight were uneventful; however, during the landing roll, the right brake pedal became ineffective. The airplane then veered left, departed the runway, and subsequently impacted a tree. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right brake line fitting had loosened near a section of the landing gear assembly that flexed during gear movement. The brake line B-nut fitting was found finger-tight, and hydraulic fluid residue was observed on and around the B-nut fitting mount, consistent with hydraulic fluid leakage. Because the airplane required differential braking for directional control during ground operations, the ineffective right brake limited the pilot’s ability to maintain directional control, resulting in a runway excursion during the landing roll.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Hoses and tubes › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,300 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,126 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 9,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN 14B (piston); 773 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney R-985AN-3- 14 (piston); 683 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,930 ft by 130 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from K6A2, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): K6A2 172355Z AUTO 13003KT 10SM CLR 30/16 A3008 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Aft view of airplane.
Photograph 2 – Left side view of airplane.
Photograph 3 – View of inside cockpit.
Photograph 4 – Close up view of loose B-Nut fitting hydraulic fluid leakage.
Photograph 5 -View of landing gear strut and brake line.
Photograph 6 – View of damaged underside of airplane.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on June 10, 2026. 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's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Interview of Pilot/owner | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Passenger Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Video | MOV file | Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Logbook (Excerpt) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | NTSB Wreckage Examination Summary | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Memorandum for Record - Digital Video Camera Recovery and Return | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Onboard Image Recorder - Email Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 5 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.