# Accident 20260515006019A: John Bradley VANS RV-7, Athens, GA, May 15, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 15, 2026, 09:28 local time
- Place: Athens, GA
- Airport: Athens/Ben Epps
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9489° N, 83.3371° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9489&lon=-83.3371&mi=10
- Aircraft: N519JS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N519JS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: John Bradley VANS RV-7 (registry code 05642ZH, https://openairdocs.org/model/john-bradley-vans-rv-7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-M1B (registry code 41871, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-m1b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JOHN BRADLEY VANS RV-7
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 627 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA210) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260515006019A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DURING START OF TAKEOFF ROLL FROM RUNWAY 09, PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY YAWED LEFT UNCONTROLLABLY AS HE WAS ADVANCING THE THROTTLE.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO ROTATE COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT INTO A GRASSY AREA.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ABOUT 300 FEET FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL.  FAA INSPECTOR OBSERVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VERTICAL AND HORZONTAL STABLIZERS.  THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER WERE TORN FROM THE FUSELAGE MOUNTING BRACKETS AND THE HORIZONTAL STAB WAS BENT.  THE AFT END OF THE FUSELAGE WHERE THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY AND STAB ARE ATTACHED WAS WRINKLED AND TWISTED ON BOTH SIDES AND UNDERSIDE.  OTHER DAMAGE NOTED INCLUDED THE RIGHT AILERON OUTER END BENT, RIGHT WING TIP DAMAGED, AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS BENT IN THE INBOARD DIRECTION.  UPON DISSSEMBLY OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY, A 1/8 INCH SIZED UNIDENTIFIABLE FOREIGN OBJECT WAS FOUND MELTED TO THE BRAKE DISK IN THE NORMAL WEAR AREA, AND HEAVY DAMAGE WAS NOTED ON THE BRAKE PAD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA26LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA210), May 15, 2026: John Bradley Vans RV-7 (N519JS), Athens, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Contamination of the left wheel brake system with debris, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.