Davis Lightning accident near Jamestown, Tennessee, June 8, 2024
On June 8, 2024 at about 3:25 pm local time, a 2007 Davis Lightning, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N155LT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Jamestown, Tennessee (Jamestown Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2024 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Jamestown, Tennessee · Jamestown Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Davis Lightning NO SERIES, built 2007, amateur-built
- Registration
- N155LT · registry record · serial 14
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot was landing the airplane following a local flight. The prevailing wind condition for the runway selected by the pilot for the landing included a quartering tailwind at 3 knots, with gusts to 9 knots. The pilot described that during the landing, the airplane floated down the runway, after which the airplane stalled and then contacted the runway hard. The airplane’s left wing and engine mounts were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 42 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 435 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 12, 2023; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300 (piston); 435 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 3,498 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 10:30 am from K8A3, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR K8A3 081530Z AUTO 22006KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A3002 RMK A01=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – FAA Digital Photograph. Left Forward Quartering View of the Airplane Where it Came to Rest
Photograph 2 – FAA Digital Photograph. Right Forward Quartering View of the Airplane at the Accident Site.
Photograph 3 – FAA Digital Photograph. View of the Bottom of the Left Wing. Note the Chordwise Cracks in the Lower Wing
Photograph 4 – FAA Digital Photograph. View of the Outboard Upper Surface of the Left Wing. Note the Cracks
Photograph 5 – Digital Photograph From New Owner. View Showing the Broken Engine Mount TubesThe 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
9 documents, released by the NTSB on December 2, 2024. 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 | NTSB Record of Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Record of Conversations | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Automatic Dependent Surveillance A�� Broadcast (ADS-B) Tabular Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 7 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Memorandum for Record - Flight Control Continuity | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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.