Amateur-built Junior Ace accident near Ashville, Alabama, September 30, 2008
On September 30, 2008 at about 10:37 pm local time, a amateur-built Junior Ace, registered N1012S, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Ashville, Alabama (Town And Country Airpark 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 improper flare while landing. Contributing to the accident was the airplane's lack of yaw control as reported by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2008 · about 10:37 pm local time
- Place
- Ashville, Alabama · Town And Country Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Junior Ace
- Registration
- N1012S · no longer on the register · serial RH3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the amateur-built Junior Ace stated that the purpose of the personal flight was to fly in the local area for about 1 hour. The airplane was equipped with one centrally-mounted control stick, a two-place bench seat, and two sets of rudder pedals. About 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot turned the airplane to the left. When he attempted to turn to the right, the airplane yawed "uncontrollably" to the left. The pilot said he applied more right rudder in an attempt to control the left yaw, but the yaw increased. The pilot reported that he could not stop the yawing motion. He stated that, "it felt like the airplane was stalling and about to spin." A witness stated that the airplane’s wings rocked back and forth in a smooth, slow rocking motion. The pilot attempted to land in a field, and "flared high" above the ground. The airplane impacted the ground, and nosed over. The right main landing gear, right wing rear strut, and firewall were damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane prior to the flight. He also stated that for this flight, he sat in the center of the bench seat, straddled the control stick, and was utilizing the "outboard rudder pedals." Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed all flight controls moved free, correct and had full travel.
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 in flight during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during enroute (descent)
- Hard landing during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Damaged/degraded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 438 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 3, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 73.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2008; 3.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,175 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3AL6 Branchville AL at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 3AL6 Brranchville AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from BHM, 31 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.