Jabiru SP 250 accident near Thermal, California, February 5, 2021
On February 5, 2021 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2007 Jabiru SP 250, registered N7850K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Thermal, California (Thermal 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 loss of directional control during landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 2021 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Thermal, California · Thermal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Jabiru SP 250, built 2007
- Registration
- N7850K · no longer on the register · serial 389
- 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, during landing, the airplane was about 20 ft above the runway, when a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right. The pilot attempted to correct to stay on the runway, however the airplane touched down and veered towards the right of the runway. The pilot attempted to regain directional control with left brake and left rudder application, but the airplane exited the right side of the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 on ground during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 95 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 17, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 566.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,330 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300A (piston); 569 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WHP Pacoima CA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 2996.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from TRM, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2021. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.