# Accident 20230603012039A: John D Lassiter Jr ZENITH 601XL, Albertville, AL, June 3, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 3, 2023, 12:46 local time
- Place: Albertville, AL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2760° N, 86.3003° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2760&lon=-86.3003&mi=10
- Aircraft: N601YP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N601YP-2023-08-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: John D Lassiter JR ZENITH 601XL (registry code 05632D9, https://openairdocs.org/model/john-d-lassiter-jr-zenith-601xl) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Honda VIKING (registry code 33803, https://openairdocs.org/engine/honda-viking) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JOHN D LASSITER JR ZENITH 601XL
- Reported engine: HONDA VIKING
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 343 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23FA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA254) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230603012039A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS CRUISING IN A PATTERN AT LOW SPEED AND LOW ALTITUDE (500-2000 AGL) APPROX. 4 MILES NW OF AIRPORT (K8A0) FOR 25 MINUTES. THE SOLE WITNESS (.7 MILES FROM SITE) STATED HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT FLYING AT LOW POWER, THEN SUDDENLY INCREASE ENGINE POWER AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SHARPLY PITCH NOSE DOWN OUT AND OF HIS SIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A GROUP OF TREES AND IMPACTED GROUND AT APPROX. 45 DEGREES DOWNWARD, FATALLY INJURING THE PILOT AND DESTROYING THE AIRCRAFT. FUEL AND OIL WERE PRESENT, AND THE ENGINE SHOWED SIGNS OF PRODUCING POWER UPON IMPACT. ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE PRESENT AND CABLES SHOWED CONTINUITY. INITIAL INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS OR ABNORMALITIES WITH THE AIRCRAFT. INFORMATION FROM ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, ATC TAPES, PILOT'S FLIGHT TRACKING SOFTWARE, AND MEDICAL EXAMINER IS STILL PENDING. REPORT WILL BE UPDATED AS MORE INFORMATION IS KNOWN.

## 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 ERA23FA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA254), Jun 3, 2023: Zenith 601XL (N601YP), Albertville, AL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A descent and impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.