Keil JAEGER D-IX N257JK

Summary

On 28 February 1999 at about 16:15 local time, a Keil JAEGER D-IX registered N257JK was involved in an accident near Santa Fe, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 February 1999 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Fe, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.3591, -95.1302

Aircraft

Keil JAEGER D-IX

Registration

N257JK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hitchcock → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW99LA086

1 person died.

The separation of the right upper aileron for an undetermined reason.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The amateur-built experimental biplane impacted the ground in a vertical attitude following the in flight separation of the right upper and lower wings. The right wings came to rest about 275 yards from the main wreckage. The right upper aileron separated from the right upper wing and came to rest about 65 feet from the right wings. Examination of the three fractured rod ends, which were used to attach the aileron to the wing, indicated that the rod ends failed as a result of overload. The right lower aileron remained attached to the right lower wing. The rod that connected the right upper and lower ailerons was not recovered; however, pieces of the rod remained bolted to each aileron. Visual examination of the fracture surfaces on the rod pieces revealed no evidence of fatigue cracking. The top and bottom aileron cables for the right upper aileron were separated, and the separated ends displayed a 'horsetail' appearance, indicative of overload failure. No evidence of contact between the aileron leading edges and the wing trailing edges was noted. The reason for the separation of the right upper aileron could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.