Amateur-built KING COBRA-B accident near Newberry, Florida, December 16, 1995
On December 16, 1995 at about 5:45 pm local time, a amateur-built KING COBRA-B, registered N102DJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newberry, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 1995 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Newberry, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KING COBRA-B KING COBRA
- Registration
- N102DJ · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the airplane start a turn towards the north and then to the west over a state road. The airplane then turned towards the east, banked to the right, the nose pitch down, and the airplane crashed. The engine appeared to be running until the airplane collided with the ground. Visual examination of the airframe, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash failure or malfunction. Continuity of the flight control system was confirmed for pitch and roll. The right rudder cable was attached to the rudder. The left rudder cable was not attached. The attach point and retainer pin were in place; however, the clevis pin safety ring was missing and later found by a recovery crew. Safety Board metallurgical examination of the safety ring revealed features indicative that it was cut.
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: 331 hours in all; 194 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 221 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1995; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 775 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OJ8 High Springs FL at 5:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from GNV, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.