# NTSB CEN18FA186: James Donald Baker Zenith, N622DP, Bolivar, MO, May 22, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 22, 2018, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Bolivar, MO - Coordinates: 37.600051, -93.409278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6001&lon=-93.4093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE - NTSB case key (mKey): 97300 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18FA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97300/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97300 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA186 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control after takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Baker Don ZENITH 601, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05901RD), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Baker Don ZENITH 601, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05901RD), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Baker Don ZENITH 601, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05901RD), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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 control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Baker Don ZENITH 601, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05901RD), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Baker Don ZENITH 601, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05901RD), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot departed for a local personal flight in the experimental airplane that he had built and flown for about 500 hours. A witness saw the airplane flying about 50 feet above trees with the nose oscillating up and down. According to the witness, the engine was not "making any strange noises [and had a] steady tone." The airplane struck trees and impacted the ground about 0.75 mile south of the airport. Postaccident examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller revealed no discrepancies or anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.The damage to the propeller blades was consistent with rotation at impact. An autopsy of the pilot was not performed. According to the toxicology report, no ethanol or drugs were detected. Given the oscillations described by the witness, it is likely that the pilot did not maintain airplane control following the takeoff. ## Factual narrative The airplane was constructed by the pilot from a kit and was issued a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificate of airworthiness on June 21, 2007. It was powered by a Continental C85-12 engine, serial number 26363-6-12, rated at 85 horsepower, driving a Sensenich 2-blade, fixed pitch, wooden propeller, model number 68X54R. The Hobbs meter on the instrument panel indicated 506.5 hours. On May 22, 2018, about 0930 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Zenith 601, N622DP, collided with trees and impacted terrain after takeoff from Bolivar Municipal Airport (M17), Bolivar, Missouri. The private pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was owned by the pilot who operated it under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported, and no flight plan had been filed. The local personal flight originated about 0925. According to one witness, the airplane was flying "low above the trees," and the nose "going up and down about 50 feet above the trees." The witness reported that the engine wasn't "making any strange noises [and had a] steady tone." The accident site was located about 0.75 mile south of M17 between the 16th and 18th holes at the Silo Ridge Golf and Country Club. An autopsy of the pilot was not performed. The pilot's death certificate listed the cause of death as blunt force trauma. FAA's Bioaeronautical Science Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology testing, and no ethanol or drugs were detected. Cyanide and carbon monoxide testing were no performed. At 0930, the reported weather at the Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), Springfield, Missouri, located about 21 miles south of the accident site, was wind, calm, visibility, 85 miles, ceiling, 400 feet broken; temperature, 22°C., dew point, 21°C., and altimeter setting, 30.08 inches of mercury. The 87-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He held a BasicMed certificate. The pilot reported having about 1,662 hours of flight experience of which about 507 hours were in the Zenith 601. The pilot also held three repairman experimental aircraft builder certificates. Examination of the accident site revealed evidence consistent with the airplane striking the tops of trees on a magnetic heading of about 140°, descending in a nose-down attitude, and impacting terrain. The horizontal stabilizer was twisted 180° and displayed evidence of tree strikes. The leading edge of the right wing displayed numerous indentations consistent with tree strikes. A tree branch was embedded in the right main landing gear wheel pant. Broken tree branches lay scattered on the ground around the airplane. Flight control continuity was confirmed, and the shattered wooden propeller displayed evidence consistent with rotation at impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N622DP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N622DP-2019-03-23), registration cancelled 2019-03-23, S/N 6-3960-B, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: James Donald Baker Zenith (601) - Registry model: [Baker Don ZENITH 601](https://openairdocs.org/model/baker-don-zenith-601) (registry code 05901RD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85-12](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-12) (registry code 17124, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-3960-B - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 506 - Engines: Continental C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: M17, Bolivar, MO - Destination: M17, Bolivar, MO - Airport: M17, Bolivar Municipal, runway 18, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 87; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,662 total, 507 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 85 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: SGF, 22 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 20180522005759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180522005759A), May 22, 2018: Baker Don ZENITH 601, Bolivar, MO, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. The aircraft departed Bolivar Municipal Airport from runway 18. Approximately three quarter mile from the departure runway, the aircraft struck a tree on a… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97300. 5.3 MB in all. - Witness Statement (item 1, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467645&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Departure Airport and Accident Site (item 2, .PDF, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467646&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Departure%20Airport%20and%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Cockpit Instrument Readings (item 3, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467647&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cockpit%20Instrument%20Readings-Master.PDF - Portion of the Pilot's Logbook (item 4, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467648&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Portion%20of%20the%20Pilot%27s%20Logbook-Master.PDF - Portion of the Maintenance Records (item 5, .PDF, 563 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467649&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Portion%20of%20the%20Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 6, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467650&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Report Photos (item 7, .PDF, 3 photos, 508 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467651&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20Photos-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.