# Accident 20190430003619A: Harris Robert W ZENITH CH 701, Marion, VA, April 30, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 30, 2019, 18:30 local time
- Place: Marion, VA
- Airport: Mountain Empire
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.8944° N, 81.3506° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8944&lon=-81.3506&mi=10
- Aircraft: N396PH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N396PH-2020-06-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Harris Robert W ZENITH CH 701 (registry code 0562368, https://openairdocs.org/model/harris-robert-w-zenith-ch-701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912S series (registry code 55570, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912s-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HARRIS ROBERT W ZENITH CH 701
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912S
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 70 total, 1 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR19TA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA142) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190430003619A

## Narrative

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

THIS NARRATIVE IS BASED ON AN ON-SITE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE, RUNWAY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT, AND ^OWNER/^PILOT'S STATEMENT TO NTSB INVESTIGATOR.  THE ^OWNER/^PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT INTENDING TO PRACTICE IN THE PATTERN.   ON HIS FIRST APPROACH TO RUNWAY 26 THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AT ABOUT 12 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED HARD ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE, STRIKING FIRST ON THE R/H LANDING GEAR.  THE LANDING GEAR AXLE BROKE AND THE R/H LANDING GEAR DUG INTO THE RUNWAY SURFACE.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED FORWARD AND GROUND LOOPED.  IT SETTLED ON ITS NOSE ON THE RUNWAY; THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED ON THE RUNWAY UNTIL IT CAME TO REST.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO ITS PROPELLER, LANDING GEAR, WINGS, AND FUSELAGE.  THE ^OWNER/^PILOT WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE AIRCRAFT.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES ON THE GROUND OR WITH THE PILOT.  THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT AND VALID PILOT CERTIFICATE, NOR A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.

## 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 WPR19TA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA142), Apr 30, 2019: Zenair Zenith CH 701 (N396PH), Marion, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The noncertificated pilot's failure to maintain control following a bounced landing and his decision to fly the airplane without proper training.

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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