ERA23LA268

Factual narrative

On June 3, 2023, about 1709 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Jabiru J250, N828WD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Louisville, Georgia. The private pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was preparing for a takeoff at Louisville Municipal Airport (2J3), Louisville, Georgia on a local flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane started to drift left of the runway centerline. He responded with right rudder; however, the airplane continued to drift to the left. He continued to add right rudder until the pedals reached the hard stop. The airplane departed the runway surface and entered a grassy area. The nose gear collapsed on the rough terrain and the wreckage came to rest nose down. The pilot reported in a later interview that there were thunderstorms in the area. The weather observations for 2J3 were not archived and attempts to recover the data were unsuccessful. The 1655 observation (about 14 minutes before the accident) at East Georgia Regional Airport (SBO), Swainsboro, Georgia, located 23 nm south of 2J3, included wind from 050° at 7 knots with gusts to 14 knots. Distant lightning to the west was also noted. The 1715 observation at Thomson-McDuffie County Airport (HQU), located about 33 nm north-northeast of 2J3, included wind from 050° at 8 knots with gusts to 17 knots. The 1715 observation at Baldwin County Regional Airport (MLJ), Milledgeville, Georgia, located about 44 nm west-northwest of 2J3, included wind variable at 3 knots with gusts to 10 knots. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The nose gear collapsed under the engine compartment. The lower, forward fuselage was crushed and impinged on the rudder pedals. The wings, aft fuselage, and empennage were undamaged. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge examined the wreckage at a storage facility after the wreckage was recovered. An examination of the flight controls revealed continuity from the control surfaces to the cockpit controls. The lower, forward fuselage was crushed in an upward and aft direction, compromising and deforming the cockpit floor and impinging on the rudder controls. An examination of the tires and wheel brakes revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane started to drift left of the runway centerline. He responded with right rudder; however, the airplane continued to drift to the left. He continued to add right rudder until the pedals reached the hard stop. The airplane departed the runway surface and entered a rough, grassy area. The airplane’s nose landing gear collapsed, and the wreckage came to rest nose down, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident examination of the flight controls, wheel brakes, and tires did not reveal evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure. The pilot reported that there were thunderstorms in the area. There was no wind information available for the departure airport; however, several airports in the area reported gusting wind conditions. The closest recorded observation noted distant lightning to the west. Based on this information, it is likely that the pilot encountered wind conditions that exceeded his ability to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
• — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Response/compensation