# NTSB ERA25LA214: Jernigan Zenith 750, N864AJ, Greenville, SC, May 18, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: May 18, 2025, 14:16 local (18:16 UTC) - Place: Greenville, SC - Coordinates: 34.84855, -82.461839 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8486&lon=-82.4618&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200220 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA214 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200220/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA214 ## Preliminary report On May 18, 2025, about 1416 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Zenith 750, N864AJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Greenville, South Carolina. 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 the airplane’s condition inspection had just been completed. He subsequently removed the engine cowling and performed two separate 5-minute engine runs, and a third engine run that was 7 minutes in duration. After each engine-run the pilot secured the engine and then checked from the firewall forward to confirm that there was no engine oil leakage. He then performed a complete preflight inspection of the airplane noting the oil capacity was 3.5 quarts (normal). After departure the pilot proceeded in a westerly direction and during cruise flight at 2,200 ft mean sea level (1,200 ft above ground level) with the engine operating about 2,400 rpm, he heard an aural annunciation of “oil pressure” twice from the on-board avionics. The pilot increased engine speed about 100 rpm and noted that the oil pressure reading on the multi-function display was 28 psi. The engine was developing partial power, and the pilot pitched the airplane for best glide airspeed; however, he was too far to reach his intended airport. The pilot maneuvered toward a forced landing area in a residential development; however, on final approach he realized the terrain was not smooth. When he flared for landing, the main landing gear impacted the top of a very steep incline and separated. The airplane then rolled between 10 and 15 ft and nosed over. The airplane was recovered for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [William Clark Jernigan ZENITH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05640DM), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [William Clark Jernigan ZENITH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05640DM), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [William Clark Jernigan ZENITH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05640DM), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [William Clark Jernigan ZENITH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05640DM), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N864AJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N864AJ), registered now, S/N 75-8067, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Jernigan Zenith 750 - Registry model: [William Clark Jernigan ZENITH 750](https://openairdocs.org/model/william-clark-jernigan-zenith-750) (registry code 05640DM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Ulpower UL350IS](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ulpower-ul350is) (registry code 62000, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 75-8067 - Year built: 2021 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Departed: GMU, Greenville, SC - Destination: LQK, Pickens, SC - Airport: NONE ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 13 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KGMU, 6 nm away - METAR: KGMU 181753Z 25013G23KT 10SM CLR 28/15 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP133 T02780150 10278 20211 58006 ## 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 20250518007179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250518007179A), May 18, 2025: William Clark Jernigan ZENITH 750, Greenville, SC, Substantial damage. Departed gmu for VFR flight to practice landings at klqk. En route at 2200 feet altitude, the pilot noticed a decrease in oil pressure followed by partial loss… 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. --- 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.