- Date
- May 15, 2026, 08:46 local (12:46 UTC)
- Place
- Athens, GA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N519JSJohn Bradley Vans RV-7
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2026
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20260515006019A
- Case key
- 203017
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Contamination of the left wheel brake system with debris, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
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.
Analysis
The pilot/builder had recently completed constructing the experimental amateur-built airplane and had successfully flown for about 15 hours over three days. On the day of the accident, he had completed seven takeoffs and landings and was preparing for another takeoff in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. According to the pilot, he aligned the airplane with the runway heading to take off. As he slowly applied engine power, the airplane began to turn “hard” to the left. The pilot attempted to add right rudder input to correct the left turn, but the airplane continued to the left, exited the runway, and ground looped in the grass. The pilot estimated that the airplane traveled a total of 235 ft down the runway from where power was applied to where the airplane came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron and empennage during the runway excursion. The pilot examined the airplane after the accident and found that the left wheel was “hot” difficult to rotate. He disassembled the left wheel and brake system and observed that there were significant grooves in the brake pads and debris lodged within the brake rotor.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N519JS
- Reported as
- John Bradley Vans RV-7
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 75052
- Built
- 2026
- Airframe hours
- 12.8
- Engine
- Lycoming Engines IO-360-M1B, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · March 29, 2026
- Airport
- AHN · Athens/Ben Epps, runway 09, 6,122 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight 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.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 30, 2026
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 627.6 total · 12.8 in this make and model · 627.6 as pilot in command · 24.1 in the last 90 days · 24.1 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- AHN
- METAR
- METAR KAHN 151251Z 09006KT 10SM CLR 14/06 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP208 T01390056
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.