# Accident 20090303001909A: Stephe CH601XL, Syracuse, UT, March 3, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 3, 2009, 08:38 local time
- Place: Syracuse, UT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.9592° N, 112.2303° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9592&lon=-112.2303&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3683X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3683X-2013-01-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Stephenson Dennis ZODIAC 601XL (registry code 05622A2, https://openairdocs.org/model/stephenson-dennis-zodiac-601xl) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jabiru 3300 (registry code 34802, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STEPHE CH601XL
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 17 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09FA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA141) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090303001909A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MARCH 3, 2009, AT APPROXIMATELY 8:38 AM MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR-BUILT STEPHEN ZODIAC CH 601 XL, N3683X COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ON ANTELOPE ISLAND APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SYRACUSE, UT.  THE PILOT WAS A COMMERCIAL PILOT (AIRPLANE MULTI AND SINGLE ENGINE LAND; INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE).  THE PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT ON THE AIRPLANE AND WAS KILLED.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM TOOELE, UT (KTVY) WITH INTENDED DESTINATION BOUNTIFUL SKYPARK, UT (KBTF).  THE FAA WAS ALERTED BY FAMILY THAT THE PILOT DID NOT ARRIVE AT ITS DESTINATION.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE COLLISION.  THE MAIN WRECKAGE CONSISTED OF THE INVERTED FUSELAGE, WINGS, TAIL GROUP AND ENGINE.  AFT CRUSHING WITH ACCORDION TYPE BENDING FEATURES WAS NOTED FROM THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AFT TO THE TAIL ASSEMBLY.  INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR FRAGMENTS OF THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE AIRPLANES COCKPIT AREA WERE FOUND IN THE GENERAL IMPACT AREA.  THE PROPELLER REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE AT THE CRANKSHAFT FLANGE AND THE ENGINE REMAINED ATTACHED TO ITS MOUNTING ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATED FIREWALL.  EXTENSIVE FRAGMENTATION AND IMPACT RELATED DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND COCKPIT CONTROLS.  BOTH SEATS REMAINED IN THE CABIN AREA AND SUSTAINED IMPACT RELATED DAMAGE.  THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND NOSE GEAR WERE IN PLACE AND REMAINED ATTACHED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE MOUNTING BRACKETS.  THE EMPENNAGE GROUP WAS BENT FORWARD, AND CANTED TO THE LEFT.  THE LEFT WING FORWARD LOWER SPAR HAD AN OVERLOAD TYPE FRACTURE.  THIS CAUSED THE LEFT WING TO FOLD FROM THE REAR ROOT OF THE WING IN A LINE TOWARDS THE FUEL TAKE (FORWARD MID SECTION OF THE WING).

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB WPR09FA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA141), Mar 3, 2009: Stephenson Zodiac 601 XL (N3683X), Antelope Island, UT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The in-flight failure of both wings due to aileron flutter. The aileron flutter was the result of inadequate wing stiffness and the lack of aileron counterbalances.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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