# NTSB CEN25LA369: Zodiac CH 650B, N22LZ, Sturgis, MI, September 7, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 7, 2025, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Sturgis, MI · runway - Coordinates: 41.813288, -85.438961 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8133&lon=-85.4390&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 2, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 200956 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA369 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200956/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200956 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA369 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control while landing. ## 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: [Zepp Lawrence P ZODIAC CH 650B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05639YD), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Zepp Lawrence P ZODIAC CH 650B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05639YD), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Zepp Lawrence P ZODIAC CH 650B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05639YD), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Zepp Lawrence P ZODIAC CH 650B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05639YD), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting takeoffs and landings in the airplane at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, the initial takeoff and landing were completed without incident. The second takeoff was uneventful; however, on final approach for the second landing, the airplane ballooned about 10 ft above the runway when it encountered a wind gust. The pilot reported that he was late in initiating a go-around. The airplane bounced and then impacted on the nose landing gear resulting in the collapse. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and right wing. The pilot noted that the wind increased from about 4 knots at the beginning of the flight, to about 10 knots with gusts to 15 knots. He stated there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane before the accident. He added that additional airspeed on approach during gusty wind conditions might have prevented the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22LZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22LZ), registered now, S/N 65-7560, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ZODIAC CH 650B - Registry model: [Zepp Lawrence P ZODIAC CH 650B](https://openairdocs.org/model/zepp-lawrence-p-zodiac-ch-650b) (registry code 05639YD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Viking 110](https://openairdocs.org/engine/viking-110) (registry code 63700, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 65-7560 - Year built: 2021 - Airframe hours: 26 - Engines: Viking 110 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2025, 9 hours before - Departed: IRS, Sturgis, MI - Destination: IRS, Sturgis, MI - Airport: IRS, Kirsch Municipal, runway 24, 3,601 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 13, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 222 total, 13.9 in this make and model, 222 as pilot in command, 2.5 in the last 90 days, 2.5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots, gusting 1 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KIRS - METAR: METAR KIRS 071415Z AUTO 30005KT 10SM CLR 15/09 A3017 ## 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 20250907012359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250907012359A), Sep 7, 2025: Zepp Lawrence P ZODIAC CH 650B, Sturgis, MI, Substantial damage. On September 7th, 2025, at approximately 1100 EDT, an experimental zodiac ch 650B aircraft, registered as [privacy data omitted] sustained significant damage… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 2, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200956. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19267309&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN25LA369_redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 765 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19268300&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20--%20CEN25LA369-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.