# NTSB CEN25LA258: Zenith Stol CH701, N237FC, Blaine, MN, July 17, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 17, 2025, 10:22 local (15:22 UTC) - Place: Blaine, MN - Coordinates: 45.144889, -93.210194 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1449&lon=-93.2102&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 200565 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA258 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200565/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200565 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA258 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind. ## 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: [Mark Heule STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05641V2), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mark Heule STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05641V2), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mark Heule STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05641V2), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Mark Heule STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05641V2), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Mark Heule STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05641V2), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mark Heule STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05641V2), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Mark Heule STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05641V2), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported the accident occurred while landing following the Phase 1 test flight. During the landing roll, with the nosewheel still off the runway, the airplane suddenly pitched down and veered left. The pilot attempted to regain directional control with a right rudder pedal input, but the airplane continued to veer left and departed off the side of the runway into the grass where the nose landing gear collapsed and the right wing struck the ground. The fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage during the runway excursion. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 27 with wind from 320° at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N237FC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N237FC), registered now, S/N 7-5255, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ZENITH STOL CH701 (NO SERIES EXISTS) - Registry model: [Mark Heule STOL CH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/mark-heule-stol-ch-701) (registry code 05641V2) (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: 7-5255 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 15.4 - Engines: Raven ReDrives Inc 1300SVS 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: 237th Aero Squadron Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 28, 2024 - Departed: ANE, Blaine, MN - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: ANE, Anoka County/Blaine (Janes FLD) Airport, runway 27, 5,000 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review July 10, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 20,234 total, 15.4 in this make and model, 13,673 as pilot in command, 9.5 in the last 90 days, 7.6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review December 12, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 378 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KANE - METAR: KANE 171549Z 32004KT 10SM CLR 20/11 A3015 ## 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 20250717010139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250717010139A), Jul 17, 2025: Mark Heule STOL CH 701, Blaine, MN, Substantial damage. On July 17, 2025, the pilot departed to conduct flight testing as part of phase one flight testing. On the return to the home airport, the winds were reported… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200565. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19114715&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19115779&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-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.