# Accident 20260705009709A: Valerie Westedt ZENITH ZODIAC 650B, Peyton, CO, July 5, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 5, 2026, 11:30 local time
- Place: Peyton, CO
- Airport: Meadow Lake
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9428° N, 104.5699° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9428&lon=-104.5699&mi=10
- Aircraft: N452VC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N452VC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Valerie Westedt ZENITH ZODIAC 650B (registry code 05633VS, https://openairdocs.org/model/valerie-westedt-zenith-zodiac-650b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Ulpower 350I (registry code 62001, https://openairdocs.org/engine/ulpower-350i) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VALERIE WESTEDT ZENITH ZODIAC 650B
- Reported engine: ULPOWER 350I
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 195 total, 1 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA243) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260705009709A

## Narrative

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

A PILOT WAS BEING TRAINED ON A NEWLY PURCHASED ZENITH 650B AIRCRAFT, AND THIS WAS THEIR FIRST INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTING A SERIES OF TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. DURING THE EIGHTH LANDING ATTEMPT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS PITCHED UP TOO AGGRESSIVELY DURING THE FLARE, WHICH CAUSED AN AERODYNAMIC STALL AND A HARD TOUCHDOWN ON THE TAIL AND MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED, AND THE PILOT FLYING IMMEDIATELY APPLIED ENGINE POWER. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, WHO LACKED ACCESS TO THROTTLE OR BRAKE CONTROLS ON THE RIGHT SIDE, OBSERVED AN EXCESSIVE NOSE-UP ATTITUDE AND COMMANDED A THROTTLE REDUCTION TO PREVENT A HIGH-SPEED RUNWAY EXCURSION. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED A SECOND TIME, STRUCK THE RUNWAY, AND BOUNCED TOWARD THE RIGHT EDGE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN PITCHED TO THE RIGHT, DEPARTED THE RUNWAY SURFACE INTO THE GRASS, AND STRUCK A TAXI LIGHT, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRFRAME TO ROTATE 180 DEGREES BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP.

## 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 WPR26LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA243), Jul 5, 2026: Valerie Westedt Zenith Zodiac 650B (N452VC), Colorado Springs, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and their subsequent loss control of during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial…

## Other reports on N452VC (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20220712012569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220712012569A), Jul 12, 2022: Valerie Westedt ZENITH ZODIAC 650B (N452VC), Eufala, OK, Substantial damage. At 1000 local on 7/12/2022, [privacy data omitted] experienced engine issues and subsequent failure before landing in a field. During the rollout landing, the…

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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