Amateur-built LONG-EZ accident near Thomasville, Georgia, July 10, 2024
On July 10, 2024 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG-EZ, registered N4JZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Thomasville, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
<p style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;line-height:108%;font-size:12pt;background-color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-family:'Roboto';color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:#ffffff;">The in-flight separation of o</span><span style="font-family:'Roboto';background-color:#ffffff;">ne of the wooden propeller blades for unknown reasons.</span></p>
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2024 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Thomasville, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG-EZ
- Registration
- N4JZ · registry record · serial 836
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was maneuvering around weather at 11,500 ft mean sea level (msl) when he made a rapid descent to 3,500 ft msl to remain clear of clouds. He reported that he did not exceed the airplane’s maneuvering speed during the descent, and that when the airplane reached 3,500 msl, it began to “violently shake,” followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot made a successful forced landing to a field; however, after he landed, he noticed about three-quarters of one of the wooden propeller blades was missing and two of the engine mounts were sheared from the firewall. The pilot stated the wooden P-prop had been overhauled and had accrued about 50-60 hours since overhaul. The pilot provided photographs of the fractured propeller blade; however, the detail observed in the photographs was insufficient to determine the reason the blade failed. Additional photographs were requested; however, they were not provided by the pilot. Therefore, the reason for the blade failure could not be determined.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Propeller system › Propeller blade section › Failure
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 134 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KHUM Houma LA at 1:51 pm
- Destination: KTVI Thomasville GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from KTVI, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTVI 101635Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 30/25 A3000 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Rearview of Airplane and Engine
Photograph 2 – Rear View of the Airplane
Photograph 1 – Engine and Propeller
Photograph 2 – Sheared Engine mount 1
Photograph 3 – Sheared Engine Mount 2The 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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 13, 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 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photos - Airplane | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photos - Engine Mounts and Propeller | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Correspondence with Materials Laboratory | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record - Correspondence with Pilot | 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.