Amateur-built JA30 SUPERSTOL accident near Kapolei, Hawaii, January 13, 2018
On January 13, 2018 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 2016 amateur-built JA30 SUPERSTOL, registered N413Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Kapolei, Hawaii (Kalaeloa (John Rodgers Field)). 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 collapse and separation of the right landing gear suspension strut due to overload.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 13, 2018 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Kapolei, Hawaii · Kalaeloa (John Rodgers Field) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built JA30 SUPERSTOL Undesignat, built 2016
- Registration
- N413Z · registry record · serial JA435-01-15
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while landing at an airport after the personal flight, the airplane ground looped. The pilot visually inspected the airplane and found no damage. He then took off and flew to another airport. The pilot reported that, after touchdown at a speed of about 30 mph, the airplane veered sharply, and the right landing gear suspension strut collapsed. After the accident, the pilot discovered that the right suspension strut separated from the airplane; it was found on the runway near the touchdown point. A metallurgical examination of the strut revealed that the separation features were consistent with an overload type of failure; however, it could not be determined when the event leading to the overload occurred.
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 gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,465 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 16, 2017
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 61 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotex 912ULS (piston); 61 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HDH Waialua HI at 7:04 pm
- Destination: HJR Kapolei HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 6,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from PHNL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 16, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.