Amateur-built JODEL-F12 N30P accident near Rogers, Arkansas

Preliminary information

On February 26, 2026, about 1330 central standard time, an amateur-built Jodel-F12, N30P, experimental airplane, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Rogers, Arkansas. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 as a personal flight.

According to the owner of the Ozark Aerodrome (AR11), Rogers, Arkansas, the airplane had not flown for about 2 – 2 ½ years, and the pilot had performed maintenance on the airplane in preparation for the accident flight. The pilot planned on moving the airplane due to the closure of AR11 in April 2026. The pilot departed from Ozark Aerodrome (AR11), Rogers, Arkansas, about 1327, to move the airplane to Springdale Municipal Airport (ASG), Springdale, Arkansas, due to the planned closure.

AR11, the accident site, and the location of witness 1, who was located at a private airstrip, are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 AR11, witness 1, and accident site locations

Witness 1 stated that he heard the airplane with what sounded like a rough running engine, as if it had a magneto problem, west of the accident site. As the airplane approached the witness’s location, the engine sound became louder and continued to run with the same roughness. The witness stated that a westerly wind was present at the time of the accident. The witness stated that an airplane soon appeared from the west and headed east over his property, which had a private east/west runway (1,000 ft by 50 ft, turf) in useable condition. The airplane was high and fast, but the witness thought it may have been trying to land. The airplane looked as if it was going to side slip, but the engine did not slow down. The airplane descended to about 25 ft above the runway but did not touch down. When the airplane was over the end of his property, it started to climb and turned slightly right to a south heading as it flew out over Beaver Lake, Rogers, Arkansas. The turn initially appeared shallow, and the engine was still running rough. The airplane’s right turn looked as if it increased and the airplane’s right roll increased as it entered a nose-down descent into Beaver Lake.

The airplane wreckage was recovered from Beaver Lake and retained for further examination.

Text from the NTSB; a preliminary report can change and names no cause. Open the NTSB docket for CEN26FA126 for the full record.