# Accident 20250907012359A: Zepp Lawrence P ZODIAC CH 650B, Sturgis, MI, September 7, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 7, 2025, 11:00 local time
- Place: Sturgis, MI
- Airport: Kirsch Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.8133° N, 85.4390° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8133&lon=-85.4390&mi=10
- Aircraft: N22LZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22LZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Zepp Lawrence P ZODIAC CH 650B (registry code 05639YD, https://openairdocs.org/model/zepp-lawrence-p-zodiac-ch-650b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Viking 110 (registry code 63700, https://openairdocs.org/engine/viking-110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ZEPP LAWRENCE P ZODIAC CH 650B
- Reported engine: VIKING 110
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 215 total, 26 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA369) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250907012359A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 EDT, AN EXPERIMENTAL ZODIAC CH 650B AIRCRAFT, REGISTERED AS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE DURING A FLIGHT IN STURGIS, MICHIGAN AT KIRSCH MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (IRS). THE FLIGHT, OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT WITH NO PASSENGERS, WAS CONDUCTED UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91, WITHOUT A FILED FLIGHT PLAN. FORTUNATELY, THE PILOT SUFFERED ONLY A MINOR SUPERFICIAL INJURY DURING THE EVENT.

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS CURRENTLY IN THE FLIGHT-TESTING PHASE FOR HIS NEW AIRCRAFT, WITH 26 HOURS OF FLIGHT TEST TIME ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND UTILIZED FAA/EAA FLIGHT TEST CARDS WHILE CONTINUING FLIGHT TESTING. AT APPROXIMATELY 0940 LOCAL TIME (EDT), HE COMPLETED HIS PREFLIGHT WITH ZERO ISSUES. THE PILOT NOTED, PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, THAT HE HAD REGISTERED ONLY LIGHT WINDS FROM THE 250 DEGREE POSITION AT 4 KNOTS, AND HAD MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES WITH VFR CONDITIONS. HE TAXIED AND COMPLETED HIS TAKEOFF, A CIRCUIT OF THE PATTERN, AND LANDED ON RUNWAY 24 AT IRS. ON HIS SECOND SCHEDULED TAKEOFF AND APPROACH TO RUNWAY 24, THE WIND AT 250 DEG HAD INCREASED, WITH GUSTING AT 10-15 KNOTS. ON HIS FINAL APPROACH, HE EXPERIENCED A GUST THAT BOOSTED HIM TO APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, AND HE ADMITTED THAT HE FELT THAT HE SHOULD HAVE APPLIED THROTTLE TO RESTORE SPEED AND PERFORM A GO-AROUND. THE RESULT WAS AN IMPACT WITH THE RUNWAY AND PORPOISING, WHICH CAUSED A CATOSTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE NOSE STRUT, AND DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS, FUSELAGE, AND THE ENGINE. ONCE ON DECK, HIS AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED TO HIS HANGER TO BEGIN INSPECTION.

INSPECTORS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^AND I ARRIVED ON SITE TO INTERVIEW THE PILOT AND TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE AIRCRAFT IN STURGIS, MI ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2025. BEFORE INTERVIEWING THE PILOT, I PROVIDED THE PILOT WITH A PILOT’S BILL OF RIGHTS. THE PILOT WAS FORTHCOMING WITH HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCIDENT, AND HIS ROLE IN IT. THE AIRCRAFT ITSELF TOOK SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE IN THE ACCIDENT: THE NOSE STRUT AND LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. BOTH WINGS, ESPECIALLY THE STARBOARD, TOUCHED THE GROUND, WHICH TWISTED THE STARBOARD WING AND THE FUSELAGE. THE ENGINES OIL LINE WAS SHEARED, A MOUNT BROKEN OFF, AND THE PROPELLER DESTROYED. IN ADDITION TO THE PILOT, WE ALSO SPOKE WITH THE AIRPORT MANAGER, WHO MENTIONED THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE THIRD ACCIDENT/INCIDENT WITH THE PILOT. ONCE PHOTOGRAPHS AND INTERVIEW WERE COLLECTED, WE THANKED EVERYONE FOR THEIR TIME AND HEADED BACK TO GRAND RAPIDS, MI.

## 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 CEN25LA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA369), Sep 7, 2025: Zodiac CH 650B (N22LZ), Sturgis, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control while 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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