# NTSB CEN23LA215: Zenith 750, N827LC, Forest Lake, MN, June 1, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 1, 2023, 10:03 local (15:03 UTC) - Place: Forest Lake, MN - Coordinates: 45.247346, -92.992787 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2473&lon=-92.9928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192283 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192283/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192283 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA215 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the approach to land that resulted in an excessive descent rate and impact with the runway. ## 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: [James Cain ZENITH 750SD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05641HA), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [James Cain ZENITH 750SD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05641HA), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [James Cain ZENITH 750SD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05641HA), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [James Cain ZENITH 750SD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05641HA), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [James Cain ZENITH 750SD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05641HA), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [James Cain ZENITH 750SD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05641HA), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported on that he deliberately flew a high approach to land as he had experienced a high sink rate on previous flights. About 1/3 the way down the runway and despite being “ready for it” the pilot experienced a high sink rate as the airplane was about 30 feet off the ground. The airplane impacted the runway and bounced, upon impacting the runway a second time, the airplane remained on the ground, but the pilot reported a “total loss” of rudder control and the aircraft veered off the left side on the runway and came to rest into a ditch. The landing gear collapsed and the forward fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N827LC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N827LC), registered now, S/N 11167, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ZENITH 750 (SD) - Registry model: [James Cain ZENITH 750SD](https://openairdocs.org/model/james-cain-zenith-750sd) (registry code 05641HA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Aerosport IO-375 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerosport-io-375-series) (registry code 01305, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 11167 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 3 - Engines: AEROSPORT IO-375-B2B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 21, 2023, 3 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 25D, Forest Lake, runway 13, 2,700 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 120 total, 3 in this make and model, 105 as pilot in command, 15.2 in the last 90 days, 4.1 in the last 30 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KANE, 11 nm away - METAR: KANE 011450Z 15009KT 10SM FEW150 SCT250 27/17 A3000 ## 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 20230601010879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230601010879A), Jun 1, 2023: James Cain ZENITH 750SD, Forest Lake, MN, Substantial damage. The PIC was on the third flight after completing the aircraft build and was in phase I flight testing. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had a total of… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192283. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16029419&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 456 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16028884&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Photos%20(CEN23LA215)-Rel.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.