Airborne Windsports LTD Classic accident near Sebring, Florida, January 26, 2007
On January 26, 2007 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Airborne Windsports LTD Classic, registered N757LW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sebring, Florida (Sebring airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delay on the runway prior to takeoff that resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence from a landing jet that had to perform a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 2007 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sebring, Florida · Sebring · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airborne Windsports LTD Classic
- Registration
- N757LW · registry record · serial 582-1060
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he monitored the common traffic frequency, taxied to the departure end of runway 36 at Sebring Regional Airport, performed his pre-departure checks, turned the airplane around to check the area for traffic, and then taxied into position on the runway and initiated the takeoff. He said that the takeoff was normal and upon reaching 100 to 200 feet he saw a shadow on his right, and a "jet" descended directly in front of him. he said that the turbojet's wake caused an upset and he managed to correct the movement to the point where the landing gear was to the ground by diving to the left. He also said he did his best to level the wings but the airplane impacted the ground either with the left main landing gear or the left wing, incurring damage. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that witnesses reported the accident pilot had remained on the runway for an extended period of time, necessitating the pilot of the turbojet to execute a go-around.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer, sport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, sport pilot
- Ratings: instructor: sport pilot
- Flight time: 23,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 842 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEF Sebring FL at 3:30 pm
- Destination: SEF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,190 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from BOW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.