# NTSB ERA24LA303: Jones LONG-EZ, N4JZ, Thomasville, GA, July 10, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 10, 2024, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Thomasville, GA · Field
- Coordinates: 30.80912, -83.92267
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8091&lon=-83.9227&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 13, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194679
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA303
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194679/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194679
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA303

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Propeller system: propeller blade section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Jones Gay E LONG-EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md?model=05609QP), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Jones Gay E LONG-EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05609QP), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Jones Gay E LONG-EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05609QP), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was maneuvering around weather at 11,500 ft mean sea level (msl) when he made a rapid descent to 3,500 ft msl to remain clear of clouds. He reported that he did not exceed the airplane’s maneuvering speed during the descent, and that when the airplane reached 3,500 msl, it began to “violently shake,” followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot made a successful forced landing to a field; however, after he landed, he noticed about three-quarters of one of the wooden propeller blades was missing and two of the engine mounts were sheared from the firewall. The pilot stated the wooden P-prop had been overhauled and had accrued about 50-60 hours since overhaul. The pilot provided photographs of the fractured propeller blade; however, the detail observed in the photographs was insufficient to determine the reason the blade failed. Additional photographs were requested; however, they were not provided by the pilot. Therefore, the reason for the blade failure could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On July 10, 2024, about 1230 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Long-EZ airplane, N4JZ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Thomasville, Georgia. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he was flying at 11,500 ft mean sea level (msl) maneuvering around weather when he was forced to descend “very quickly” to 3,500 ft msl to remain clear of clouds. The pilot said he did not exceed the airplane’s maneuvering speed during the descent. He reported that, when the airplane reached 3,500 ft msl, it began to “violently shake,” followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot slowed the airplane to best glide airspeed and attempted to reach the Thomasville Regional Airport, Thomasville, Georgia; however, he was unable to reach the airport and performed a forced landing in a field. After exiting the airplane, the pilot observed that about three-quarters of one of the wooden propeller blades was missing, along with a section of lower engine cowling. Two engine mounts were also “perfectly” sheared off at the firewall. The pilot stated the wooden P-prop had been overhauled and had accrued about 50-60 hours since overhaul. Neither the FAA nor the NTSB traveled to the accident site. The pilot provided the NTSB photographs of the fractured propeller blade; however, the detail observed in the photographs was insufficient to determine why the blade failed. Additional photographs were requested; however, they were not provided by the pilot.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4JZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4JZ), registered now, S/N 836 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JONES LONG-EZ
- Registry model: [Jones Gay E LONG-EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/jones-gay-e-long-ez) (registry code 05609QP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 836
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: KHUM, Houma, LA
- Destination: KTVI, Thomasville, GA
- Airport: N/A
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 134 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KTVI, 6 nm away
- METAR: KTVI 101635Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 30/25 A3000 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20240710016129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240710016129A), Jul 10, 2024: Jones Gay E LONG-EZ, Thomasville, GA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported severe vibration and engine failure in cruise flight. The pliot landed the aircraft in a field. The aircraft sustained substancial damage. The…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 13, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194679. 1.2 MB in all.

- Memorandum for record - pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 2 photos, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20061535&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20MOR-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photos - airplane (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 691 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20060946&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photos - engine mounts and propeller (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 335 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20068404&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investiagtion%20Photos%20-%20Engine%20Mounts%20and%20Propeller-Rel.pdf
- NTSB correspondence with materials laboratory (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20067914&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20MOR%20-%20Correspondence%20with%20NTSB%20Materials%20Laboratory-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - correspondence with pilot (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20063061&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20MOR%20-%20Correspondence%20with%20Pilot-Rel.pdf

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.

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