# Accident 20091106025929A: Zenith Airc ZODIAC 601X, Agnos, AR, November 6, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 6, 2009, 11:00 local time
- Place: Agnos, AR
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.2553° N, 91.6931° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2553&lon=-91.6931&mi=10
- Aircraft: N538CJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N538CJ-2013-09-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Zenith ZODIAC 601XL (registry code 059015Y, https://openairdocs.org/model/zenith-zodiac-601xl) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jabiru 3300 (registry code 34801, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ZENITH AIRC ZODIAC 601X
- Reported engine: JABIRU 3300
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 117 total, 84 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN10FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA042) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091106025929A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 6, 2009, AT APPROXIMATELY 1030 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME (UTC + 6), N538CJ, A ZENITH AIRCRAFT COMPANY, EXPERIENTIAL ZODIAC EXPERIENCED AN IN FLIGHT BREAKUP AND CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES FROM CHEROKEE VILLAGE, ARKANSAS (AR).  THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT DESTROYED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE AIRCRAFT HAD DEPARTED FROM SHARP COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT, ASH FLAT, (CVK) AT APPROXIMATELY 0915 CST ON A 14 CFR PART 91 PLEASURE FLIGHT AND THE EXACT TIME OF THE CRASH IS UNKNOWN.  A FARMER CHECKING ON HIS CATTLE FOUND THE WRECKAGE AT 1230 CST IN AGNOS, AR AND CALLED THE LOCAL POLICE.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RECEIVING AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 CEN10FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA042), Nov 6, 2009: Zenith Zodiac 601 XL (N538CJ), Agnos, AR, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The in-flight separation of both wings due to aileron flutter. The aileron flutter was the result of inadequate wing stiffness and strength 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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