# Accident 20180704009079A: Zenith 701, San Saba, TX, July 4, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2018, 09:30 local time
- Place: San Saba, TX
- Airport: San Saba
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.2372° N, 98.7192° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2372&lon=-98.7192&mi=10
- Aircraft: N127VV, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N127VV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Kube Robert C ZENITH STOL CH 701 (registry code 05614CX, https://openairdocs.org/model/kube-robert-c-zenith-stol-ch-701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ZENITH 701
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 575 total, 6 in this make and model, 67 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA393](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA393) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180704009079A

## Narrative

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

PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE DEPARTING FROM SAN SABA AIRPORT (81R) WITH THE INTENTION TO FLY TO NEARBY LLANO AIRPORT (KAQO) FOR SOME TOUCH AND GO PRACTICE ON LLANO AIRPORTS GRASS STRIP.

PRE- TAKEOFF CHECKLIST WAS PERFORMED AND AIRCRAFT WAS READY FOR TAKEOFF. PILOT LINED UP ON RUNWAY 13 AND BEGAN TAKEOFF ROLL. PILOT STATED AT LIFTOFF THE AIRCRAFT WAS AIRBORNE QUICKLY. PILOT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER TO COUNTERACT A    LEFT TURN TENDENCY THE AIRCRAFT WAS PRODUCING. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO HEAD LEFT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO RE-CENTER THE AIRCRAFT WHILE AIRBORNE 5 TO 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. PILOT MADE DECISION TO PUT THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND AND LAND ON THE GRASS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY RATHER THAN CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF.

THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN THE GRASS WITH THE NOSE WHEEL EMBEDDING INTO THE GRASS CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP TAIL OVER THE NOSE ENDING WITH THE AIRCRAFT ON ITS BACK UPSIDE DOWN.

THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE NOSE LANDING GEAR, THE PROPELLER BLADES, BOTH WINGS, AND TOP PORTION OF THE RUDDER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR POST CRASH FIRE.

## 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 GAA18CA393](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA393), Jul 4, 2018: Zenair Zenith Stol CH 701 (N127VV), San Saba, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare during the aborted takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing and a nose-over.

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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