Amateur-built JAEGER D-IX accident near Santa Fe, Texas, February 28, 1999
On February 28, 1999 at about 4:15 pm local time, a amateur-built JAEGER D-IX, registered N257JK, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Fe, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the right upper aileron for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1999 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Fe, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built JAEGER D-IX JAEGER D-I
- Registration
- N257JK · no longer on the register · serial 123
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built experimental biplane impacted the ground in a vertical attitude following the in flight separation of the right upper and lower wings. The right wings came to rest about 275 yards from the main wreckage. The right upper aileron separated from the right upper wing and came to rest about 65 feet from the right wings. Examination of the three fractured rod ends, which were used to attach the aileron to the wing, indicated that the rod ends failed as a result of overload. The right lower aileron remained attached to the right lower wing. The rod that connected the right upper and lower ailerons was not recovered; however, pieces of the rod remained bolted to each aileron. Visual examination of the fracture surfaces on the rod pieces revealed no evidence of fatigue cracking. The top and bottom aileron cables for the right upper aileron were separated, and the separated ends displayed a 'horsetail' appearance, indicative of overload failure. No evidence of contact between the aileron leading edges and the wing trailing edges was noted. The reason for the separation of the right upper aileron 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 867 hours in all; 802 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 664 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1998; 30 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 37R Hitchcock TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from LVJ, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.