Hispano Aviacion HA200B SAETA accident near Xenia, Ohio, April 29, 1998
On April 29, 1998 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Hispano Aviacion HA200B SAETA, registered N9108Q, was destroyed in an accident near Xenia, Ohio (Greene County Regional airport). 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
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude clearance with trees after an improper decision to perform low level aerobatics.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1998 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Xenia, Ohio · Greene County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hispano Aviacion HA200B SAETA HA200B SAE · all HA200B SAETAs on the register
- Registration
- N9108Q · no longer on the register · serial HA20-89
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner of the airplane and a prospective buyer departed on a demonstration flight. The airplane was observed performing several low passes at the departure airport, one of which resulted in a 360 degree roll. During the climb out the airplane was observed to roll inverted and attempt a 'split S' just prior to disappearing below a tree line. A witness stated she suddenly hear the load roar of a very close jet powered airplane, looked out the window and observed an airplane flying about 40 feet above the ground, 'fast and reasonably level.' The airplane then nosed over and crashed. The majority of the wreckage was scattered for about 300 feet on a northerly heading and several parts of the wreckage were consumed by a post crash fire. Two broken limbs were observed atop a 75 foot tall tree, located about 110 feet south of the initial ground impact point. About 90 feet north-northeast of the tree, a smaller tree, about 15 feet tall had numerous broken limbs. The tree line to the east of the wreckage path and the majority of trees in the accident site area were about 50 feet tall or less.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 7,385 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Turbomeca MARBORE IIC (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: I19 OH at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from FFO, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.