# Accident 20191018017449A: Daniel F Niendorff ZENITH 801, Knoxville, TN, October 18, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 18, 2019, 17:30 local time
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9631° N, 83.8767° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9631&lon=-83.8767&mi=10
- Aircraft: N801PZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N801PZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Daniel F Niendorff ZENITH 801 (registry code 05636F0, https://openairdocs.org/model/daniel-f-niendorff-zenith-801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DANIEL F NIENDORFF ZENITH 801
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 199 total, 176 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA20CA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA043) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191018017449A

## Narrative

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

N801PZ A HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT, ZENITH 801, SERIAL NUMBER 8-4758 WAS CERTIFICATED ON JUNE 2017.

THE OWNER AND PIC DURING ACCIDENT SEQUENCE, PRIVATE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS PRACTICING POWER OFF LANDINGS.

THERE WAS ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD, A FRIEND WHICH HOLDS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE  BUT NO TRAINING WAS BEING CONDUCTED ON THIS ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

THE WEATHER INDICATED 4 KTS OF WIND AT DKX, BUT INTERVIEWING EMS PILOTS FLYING AT THE SAME TIME THEY INDICATED THE WIND WAS HIGHER THE FORECASTED AND VERY GUSTY.

THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE RUNWAY EXTREMELY HARD IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE.  THE NOSE WHEEL ENTERED THE ENGINE COWLING AND BROKE THE FIREWALL.  THE AIRFRAME UNDERNEATH THE SEATS BUCKLED.

## 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 GAA20CA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA043), Oct 18, 2019: Zenair Zenith 801 (N801PZ), Knoxville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the approach and his improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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