- Date
- February 27, 2015, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Marion, SD
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N511QCZenith Acft Stol CH 701
- Defining event
- Approach: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 8, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20150227007869A
- Case key
- 90812
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering to land resulting in contact with a power line and the ground. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was relocating his airplane to a private airstrip. On arriving at the airstrip, the pilot did two takeoffs and landings without incident. During the takeoff and climb for a third approach and landing, the pilot experienced and uncontrolled roll to the left. The pilot put in right aileron but the input did not seem to have any effect on the roll. The roll turned the airplane toward a power line located east of the runway. The pilot could not recall if he applied engine power or tried to climb to keep the airplane from contacting the power line. The airplane struck the power line and subsequently impacted the ground seriously injuring the pilot and resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The airplane was equipped with flaperons. The pilot said he was not using flaps, and that the airplane's thick wing reduced the effect of power during the descent. The pilot reported having one hour total time in the accident airplane make and model.
Factual narrative
The pilot was relocating his airplane to a private airstrip. On arriving at the airstrip, the pilot did two takeoffs and landings without incident. During the takeoff and climb for a third approach and landing, the pilot experienced and uncontrolled roll to the left. The pilot put in right aileron but the input did not seem to have any effect on the roll. The roll turned the airplane toward a power line located east of the runway. The pilot could not recall if he applied engine power or tried to climb to keep the airplane from contacting the power line. The airplane struck the power line and subsequently impacted the ground seriously injuring the pilot and resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The airplane was equipped with flaperons. The pilot said he was not using flaps, and that the airplane's thick wing reduced the effect of power during the descent. The pilot reported having one hour total time in the accident airplane make and model.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N511QC
- Reported as
- Zenith Acft Stol CH 701
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 7-8815
- Built
- 2014
- Airframe hours
- 25
- Engine
- Rotax 912ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Operator
- Pilot
- Registered owner
- Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- Bridgewater, SD
- Destination
- PVT · Marion, SD
- Airport
- PVT · Dykstra Grass Strip, runway 18, 2,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 9, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,620 total · 1 in this make and model · 1,568 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 12 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.45 inHg
- Observed at
- FSD, 22 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.