Amateur-built Jabiru J400 accident near Santa Monica, California, January 14, 2008
On January 14, 2008 at about 1:20 am local time, a amateur-built Jabiru J400, registered N522RJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Santa Monica, California (Santa Monica Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and loss of the wheel brake system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 2008 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Santa Monica, California · Santa Monica Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Jabiru J400
- Registration
- N522RJ · no longer on the register · serial 250
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated that the airplane touched down beyond the midpoint of the runway, and he applied "heavy braking." He reported that the brakes failed about three-quarters of the way down the 4,973-foot runway. The airplane overran the runway, and collided with a ditch which resulted in substantial damage to the wing assembly. Examination of the single-caliper main wheel brake assemblies by the pilot revealed extensive wear to the brake pads and rotors. He reported that both pads on the right-hand brake assembly were "melted," and the associated backing plate was bent. The actuator piston and associated O-ring was displaced, and a fluid leak was noted. The brake pads were original equipment that were installed when the airplane was manufactured 160 hours prior to the accident. The most recent condition inspection was completed 5 months and 22 hours prior to the accident.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Failure
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 160 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,540 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVX Avalon CA
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,973 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.