Amateur-built STARJAMMER accident near Henan Province, Cn, April 25, 2018
On April 25, 2018 at about 6:14 pm local time, a amateur-built STARJAMMER, registered N49EW, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Henan Province. It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed.
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2018 · about 6:14 pm local time
- Place
- Henan Province, China · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STARJAMMER NO SERIES
- Registration
- N49EW · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 25, 2018, at 1814 local time, an experimental Wells StarJammar airplane, N49EW, crashed during the rehearsal flight for an aerobatic performance at ShangJie general aviation Airport, HeNan Province, P.R. China. The owner/pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was operated under the pertinent civil regulations of the government of China. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aircraft Accident Investigation Division, Office of Aviation Safety 155 Dongsi Street West Beijing 100710 China Tel: (86) 10 6409-1908 (business hours) (86) 10 6401-2907 (24 hours / 7 days) Email: yf_mao@caac.gov.cn Fax: (86) 10 6405-2829
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
- Unknown or undetermined during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.