# Accident 20200609006999A: Evans Duane B ZENITH 601HDS, Ak Chin, AZ, June 9, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 9, 2020, 22:00 local time
- Place: Ak Chin, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.0017° N, 111.8805° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0017&lon=-111.8805&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6402X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6402X-2021-07-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Evans Duane B ZENITH 601HDS (registry code 05607RP, https://openairdocs.org/model/evans-duane-b-zenith-601hds) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EVANS DUANE B ZENITH 601HDS
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA177) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200609006999A

## Narrative

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

ON 6/09/2020 AT 2200 MST, N6402X, ZENITH 601 HDS, EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT STRUCK ON A NORTHEAST FACE OF A SMALL MOUNTAIN, 2 MILES DIRECTLY NORTHWEST OF RUNWAY 22 APPROACH, AK-CHIN REGIONAL AIRPORT (A39).  FROM RADAR DATA ANALYSIS IT LOOKS TO BE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS (CFIT) CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN.  APPROXIMATE WRECKAGE SITE LAT/LONG IS 33.001710 N -111.880623 W.  AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED ON IMPACT CAUSING A FIRE ON THE HILL TOP AND THE PILOT SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES.  AT THIS TIME ACCIDENT LOOKS TO BE PILOT ERROR.  AIRCRAFT TEARDOWN REVEAL NO IRREGULAR ISSUES MECHANICALLY OR MAINTENANCE WISE WITH THE AIRCRAFT OR FOUND IN THE RECORDS.   NO ISSUES FOUND IN THE PILOT RECORDS FOR CURRENCY AND NOTED THAT THE PILOT HAD MULTIPLE EXPERIENCE FLYING IN AND OUT OF A39 AIRPORT DURING THE DAY AND NIGHT.  NTSB AND FSDO CONTACT AIRPORTS DIVISION TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OBSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS.  IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE PILOT WAS FLYING AND DUE TO COMPLACENCY PROBABLY THOUGHT HE WAS CLOSURE IN THE AIRPORT  PATTERN THAN WHERE HE WAS LOCATED AS FROM DATA AND CAMERAS SHOWING THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRCRAFT FLOW STRAIGHT INTO THE TOP 10 FEET OF THE BUTTE NEAR THE AIRPORT WHILE MAKING A STABILIZED BASE TO FINAL TURN IN THE APPROACH PATH FOR THE RUNWAY.  FURTHER ANALYSIS IS BEING CONDUCT WITH THE FSDO AND NTSB TO FIND OUT THE REQUIREMENTS  FOR INSTALLING A LIGHT ONTOP OF THE BUTTE NEAR A39 AIRPORT TO PREVENT FURTHER ACCIDENTS OF THIS NATURE IN COORDINATION WITH THE AIRPORTS DIVISION.

## 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 WPR20LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA177), Jun 10, 2020: Zenair CH601 (N6402X), Maricopa, AZ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of situational awareness and descent below pattern altitude during the landing approach, which resulted in collision with terrain at night.

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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