# NTSB ANC15CA024: Robert M. Jones Zenith CH 701, N669RJ, Palmer, AK, May 5, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 5, 2015, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.614444, -149.665283 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6144&lon=-149.6653&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91138
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15CA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91138/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91138
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA024

## Probable cause

The pilot's excessive descent rate and subsequent hard landing during the landing flare/touchdown.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Jones Robert M ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05611CI), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jones Robert M ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05611CI), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: glassy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Jones Robert M ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md?model=05611CI), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md)
- [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Jones Robert M ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=05611CI), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Jones Robert M ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05611CI), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Jones Robert M ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05611CI), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The sport pilot reported that he was landing his float-equipped, experimental amateur-built airplane on a remote, smooth and glassy water lake. The pilot said that during the approach, just before touchdown, the airplane encountered a slight downdraft, and the airplane's right float struck the water, which pivoted it to the right. The left wing subsequently struck the water, and the airplane nosed over and sank. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.

## Factual narrative

The sport pilot reported that he was landing his float-equipped, experimental amateur-built airplane on a remote, smooth and glassy water lake. The pilot said that during the approach, just before touchdown, the airplane encountered a slight downdraft, and the airplane's right float struck the water, which pivoted it to the right. The left wing subsequently struck the water, and the airplane nosed over and sank. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N669RJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N669RJ), registered now, S/N 7-4226, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBERT M. JONES ZENITH CH 701 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Jones Robert M ZENITH CH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/jones-robert-m-zenith-ch-701) (registry code 05611CI) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 7-4226
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 702
- Engines: ROTAX SEE BOMBADIER reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jones Robert M
- Registered owner: Jones Robert M
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2015, 5 hours before
- Departed: L95, BIG LAKE, AK
- Destination: Palmer, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 985 total, 675 in this make and model, 925 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20150505007569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150505007569A), May 5, 2015: Jones Robert M ZENITH CH 701, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. On may 05, 2015, at 1350 Alaska daylight time, 2150Z, N669RJ, a zenith CH701 experimental amateur built aircraft, impacted the water while attempting a water…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 25, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91138. 885 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 885 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431085&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF

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.

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