Amateur-built JODEL F-9 accident near N. Little Rock, Arkansas, May 21, 1986
On May 21, 1986 at about 8:45 pm local time, a amateur-built JODEL F-9, registered N28QW, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Little Rock, Arkansas (N. Little Rock airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1986 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- N. Little Rock, Arkansas · N. Little Rock · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built JODEL F-9
- Registration
- N28QW · registry record · serial 4041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT STALLED AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE DURING AN ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING AN ENG FAILURE. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE MAGNETO DRIVE COUPLING HAD FAILED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE PRESENT WHICH INDICATED WEAR ON THE COUPLING AND MAGNETO DRIVE. THIS HOMEBUILT ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR APRX EIGHT YEARS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER STATED THE MAGNETO IN THIS TYPE ENG HAS CONSIDERABLE PLAY IN THE OPENING WHERE IT IS INSERTED INTO THE ENG DRIVE ASSEMBLY. THIS PLT HAD PURCHASED THE ACFT ON 5/13/86.
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: 465 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 385 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 207 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1986; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen TYPE I (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jacksonville AR at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 1M1 N. Little Rock AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MKC86FPG04.