ERA26FA039

NTSB accident investigation · Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP · New Bavaria, OH · November 14, 2025

Accident · FatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary report
Date
November 14, 2025, 17:08 local (22:08 UTC)
Place
New Bavaria, OH · B272 County Road 14A, New Bavaria Ohio
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N755JJabiru USA Sport J230-SP
Defining event
Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Investigation ongoing
Investigation class
Class 3
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20251114018449A
Case key
202008

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Preliminary report

What NTSB knew early in the investigation. It may change in the final report.

On November 14, 2025, at 1708 eastern standard time, a Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft LLC J230-SP, N755J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near New Bavaria, Ohio. The sport pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A review of preliminary ADS-B data showed that the airplane departed Fulton County Airport (USE), Wauseon, Ohio, where the airplane was based about 1458. It then flew for about 2 hours around northwest Ohio at geometric altitudes between 3,100 ft mean sea level (msl) and 1,700 ft msl. At 1656 the airplane entered the accident area and began a descent from about 3,000 ft msl. It circled the accident area multiple times, descending to a minimum altitude of 103 ft above ground level (agl) at 1707:02. The airplane then began a climbing left turn which reached a maximum altitude of 428 ft agl at 1707:11. The left turn continued and the last data point, at 1707:17, showed the airplane at an altitude of 152 ft agl. A family member who lived across the street from the accident site reported that the pilot would often fly over their house at a low altitude and that family members would go outside to wave. On the day of the accident, a family member reported hearing the airplane fly overhead and going outside to wave. The airplane flew over the house at a low altitude and, after passing over the house, began a left turn to pass over the house again. Before the airplane passed back over the house, while in the left turn, the family member heard sounds of an impact. The family member further reported that the airplane’s engine sound was loud and constant. Another witness, who was working in a field near the accident site, reported that he saw the airplane circle overhead 3 times. As the airplane passed over the family members’ house it began a steep left turn, with its wings nearly perpendicular to the ground indicative of a near 90° bank angle. The airplane then descended until the left wingtip struck the ground. The debris path located in a tilled field, was about 370 ft in length, and oriented on a magnetic heading of about 125°. The initial impact mark was located about 250 ft past the last ADS-B track data point. The main impact crater was about 25 ft from the initial impact mark. The airplane fuselage came to rest on top of the right wing on its left side. It was on a magnetic heading of 235° at an altitude of 731 ft mean sea level and was located about 220 ft from the initial impact mark. The vertical stabilizer and rudder remained attached to the fuselage and the horizontal stabilizer and elevator were impact separated and found about 120 ft from the main wreckage. The left wing and left aileron were impact separated and found 70 ft and 175 ft from the main wreckage, respectively. The right aileron was impact separated and was found about 130 ft from the right wing. Flight control continuity was confirmed from all flightcontrol surfaces to the cockpit area through multiple impact separations. The left wing fuel tank and header fuel tank were breached and contained no fuel. The right wing fuel tank was about half full of liquid consistent with fuel. The engine was impact separated from the firewall and was found about 70 ft from the main wreckage. The engine was able to be rotated by hand and continuity of the crankshaft was confirmed to the accessory case. The engine carburetor was impact separated and found about 40 ft past the main wreckage. The carburetor exhibited impact damage, and the carburetor bowl was impact separated from the carburetor. Both propeller blades were impact separated and found in the debris path. One blade was impact separated at the propeller hub and the other blade was impact separated about 6 inches from the propeller hub. Multiple electronic devices capable of recording flight data were located in the debris path and exhibited impact damage. They were retained and sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory for data download. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Aircraft

Registration
N755J
Reported as
Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP
Category
Airplane
Serial number
815
Built
2013
Airframe hours
420.9
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Special light-sport (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · November 15, 2024
Departed
USE · Wauseon, OH
Equipment
Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
220° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
29.95 inHg
Observed at
OWX, 12 nm away
METAR
METAR KOWX 142155Z 22006KT 10SM CLR 16/09 A2995 RMK AO1

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.