# NTSB CEN12LA014: Peck Zodiac 601XL, N4595P, Traverse City, MI, October 11, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 11, 2011, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Traverse City, MI
- Coordinates: 44.697776, -85.913612 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6978&lon=-85.9136&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 28, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA -- Grand Rapids Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 82039
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82039/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA014

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

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

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Peck Duard R ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=056230O), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Peck Duard R ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056230O), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Peck Duard R ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=056230O), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Peck Duard R ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056230O), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The engine lost power shortly after takeoff about 400 feet above ground level. The pilot's efforts to restore engine power were not successful. He initiated a left turn in order to set up for a forced landing; however, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of an engine malfunction or failure. Carburetor icing was not probable under takeoff power at the time of the accident. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On October 11, 2011, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Peck Zodiac 601XL airplane, N4595P, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power after takeoff at the Lake Ann Airway Estates Airport (4M0), Traverse City, Michigan. The pilot was seriously injured. The experimental, amateur-built airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. A witness reported that he observed the airplane takeoff and begin to climb. He then heard the engine sputter twice and immediately lose power. The airplane entered a wide left turn and subsequently impacted the ground. It came to rest in the front yard of a residence located adjacent to the airport. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the start-up or taxi. He stated that after takeoff, about 400 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. His efforts to restore engine power were not successful. He initiated a left turn in order to set-up for a forced landing; however, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an in-flight loss of engine power. Fuel recovered from the airplane did not exhibit any visible contamination or sediment. Weather conditions recorded at the Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), located about 15 miles east of 4M0, at 1053, were: wind from 170 degrees at 4 knots, scattered clouds at 18,000 feet above ground level, 10 miles visibility, temperature 21 degrees Celsius, dew point 10 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 30.05 inches of mercury. Federal Aviation Administration guidance indicated a possibility of engine carburetor icing only at glide power based on the recorded weather conditions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4595P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4595P-2017-07-14), registration cancelled 2017-07-14, S/N 6-5965, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Peck Zodiac 601XL
- Registry model: [Peck Duard R ZODIAC 601XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/peck-duard-r-zodiac-601xl) (registry code 056230O) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 6-5965
- Engines: Subaru EA-81 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 11, 2011
- Departed: 4M0, Traverse City, MI
- Destination: 4M0, Traverse City, MI
- Airport: 4M0, Lake Ann Airway Estates, runway 27, 2,537 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 88; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; last flight review January 2, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 24,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: TVC, 15 nm away

## 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 20111011023119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111011023119A), Oct 11, 2011: Peck Duard R ZODIAC 601XL, Interlochen, MI, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed runway 27. At approximately 100' AGL the engine quit. Pilot initiated a descending left turn and impacted the ground about 300 feet south of…

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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