Amateur-built AEROCOMP accident near Jefferson City, Missouri, July 20, 2019
On July 20, 2019 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1999 amateur-built AEROCOMP, registered N12ZT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Jefferson City, Missouri (Jefferson City Memorial airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion, impact with runway lights, and a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2019 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jefferson City, Missouri · Jefferson City Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AEROCOMP 7, built 1999
- Registration
- N12ZT · registry record · serial 98-175
- 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, during a touch-and-go landing and shortly after touchdown, the airplane veered left. He added power, and the airplane pitched up, so he "cut the power" and corrected with right aileron, but the airplane landed hard on a grass field next to the runway, struck runway lights, and nosed over. The pilot added that the airplane was trimmed for landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from 030° at 10 to 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,031 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 3,031 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 16, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 310 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 15, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Walter 601-D (piston); 1,805 hours total
- Operator: Comp Air Wings Llc
The flight
- Departed from: JEF Jefferson City MO at 3:00 pm
- Destination: JEF Jefferson City MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from KCOU, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.