Amateur-built Zenith 750 accident near Greenville, South Carolina, May 18, 2025
On May 18, 2025 at about 6:16 pm local time, a 2021 amateur-built Zenith 750, registered N864AJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Greenville, South Carolina. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2025 · about 6:16 pm local time
- Place
- Greenville, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zenith 750, built 2021
- Registration
- N864AJ · registry record · serial 75-8067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 18, 2025, about 1416 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Zenith 750, N864AJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Greenville, South Carolina. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14?Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that the airplane’s condition inspection had just been completed. He subsequently removed the engine cowling and performed two separate 5-minute engine runs, and a third engine run that was 7 minutes in duration. After each engine-run the pilot secured the engine and then checked from the firewall forward to confirm that there was no engine oil leakage. He then performed a complete preflight inspection of the airplane noting the oil capacity was 3.5 quarts (normal). After departure the pilot proceeded in a westerly direction and during cruise flight at 2,200 ft mean sea level (1,200 ft above ground level) with the engine operating about 2,400 rpm, he heard an aural annunciation of “oil pressure” twice from the on-board avionics. The pilot increased engine speed about 100 rpm and noted that the oil pressure reading on the multi-function display was 28 psi. The engine was developing partial power, and the pilot pitched the airplane for best glide airspeed; however, he was too far to reach his intended airport. The pilot maneuvered toward a forced landing area in a residential development; however, on final approach he realized the terrain was not smooth. When he flared for landing, the main landing gear impacted the top of a very steep incline and separated. The airplane then rolled between 10 and 15 ft and nosed over. The airplane was recovered for further examination.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: GMU Greenville SC at 6:01 pm
- Destination: LQK Pickens SC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KGMU, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGMU 181753Z 25013G23KT 10SM CLR 28/15 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP133 T02780150 10278 20211 58006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.