# NTSB ERA26LA267: Stits Playmate, N21JB, Green Cove Springs, FL, July 9, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 9, 2026, 11:43 local (15:43 UTC) - Place: Green Cove Springs, FL · Airport turf runway - Coordinates: 29.904263, -81.68547 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9043&lon=-81.6855&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203366 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203366/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203366 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA267 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Weller Jay Bee STS PLYMATE SA-11-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05607K0), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weller Jay Bee STS PLYMATE SA-11-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05607K0), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Weller Jay Bee STS PLYMATE SA-11-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05607K0), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Weller Jay Bee STS PLYMATE SA-11-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05607K0), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Weller Jay Bee STS PLYMATE SA-11-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05607K0), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to perform a traffic pattern circuit and a full stop landing. During the landing, he misjudged his altitude above the runway and the airplane landed hard as he initiated the landing flare. The nose landing gear struck the turf runway, collapsed, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21JB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21JB), registered now, S/N 171011242, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STITS Playmate - Registry model: [Weller Jay Bee STS PLYMATE SA-11-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/weller-jay-bee-sts-plymate-sa-11-a) (registry code 05607K0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 171011242 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 212.78 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: JVG3 Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 11, 2025 - Airport: 7FL4, Haller Airpark, runway 36, 2,600 × 75 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 10, 2025; seat: left; flight hours: 1,172 total, 21 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: SGJ, 18 nm away - METAR: METAR KSGJ 091556Z 20006KT 10SM CLR 33/23 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP201 T03280233 $ ## 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 20260709009539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260709009539A), Jul 9, 2026: Weller Jay Bee STS PLYMATE SA-11-A, Green Cove Spri, FL, Substantial damage. On July 9, 2026, at approximately 1543Z, an experimental amateur-built aircraft (stitts playmate SA-11-A) was involved in an event on a grass runway at an… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203366. 2.1 MB in all. - NTSB 6120 1 form (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 513 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20741232&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20741508&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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. --- 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.