# Accident 20230310002389A: Dean William E ZENITH ZODIAC 601XL, La Veta, CO, March 10, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 10, 2023, 10:45 local time
- Place: La Veta, CO
- Airport: Laveta
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.5238° N, 105.0093° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5238&lon=-105.0093&mi=10
- Aircraft: N969WD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N969WD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Dean William E ZENITH ZODIAC 601XL (registry code 05619G0, https://openairdocs.org/model/dean-william-e-zenith-zodiac-601xl) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax SEE BOMBADIER (registry code 55555, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEAN WILLIAM E ZENITH ZODIAC 601XL
- Reported engine: ROTAX SEE BOMBADIER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230310002389A

## Narrative

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

EYEWITNESS TO ACCIDENT HAD JUST SOLD THE PLANE TO THE PILOT AT THE CONTROLS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE HAD ADVISED THEM IT WAS TOO WINDY TO TRY AND TAKE OFF. THE PILOT TOLD HIM THEY WOULD BE FINE, THEY WOULD GET ABOVE THE WIND. EYEWITNESS WATCHED THE PLANE TAKE OFF AND GET ABOUT 350 FEET IN THE AIR AND THEN THE PLANE STARTED COMING DOWN AND CRASHED OFF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. BOTH THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER WERE OUTSIDE OF THE PLANE WHEN HE DROVE UP WITH MINOR INJURIES. PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL TO BE CHECKED OUT.

PILOT STATED HE TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRPORT HEADING INTO THE WIND WEST BOUND. THE WINDS WERE CONTANT 35-40 KNOTS AND THEY GAINED ABOUT 350 FEET WHEN HE LOST CONTROL AND THE PLANE STARTED TO GO DOWN, THEY HIT THE GROUND WITH THE FRONT PART OF THE PLANE AND FLIPPED ONTO THE TOP. BOTH THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO GET THEMSELVES OUT OF THE PLANE. THE PLANE WAS 0.4MI. FROM THE EAST END OF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST ON ITS TOP FACING SOUTHWEST ABOUT 50 YARDS OFF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

## 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 CEN23LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA128), Mar 10, 2023: Zenith Zodiac 601XL (N969WD), La Veta, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to fly the airplane in which he had no experience in strong, gusting wind, which resulted his failure to maintain proper airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical…

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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