# NTSB CEN26LA057: Zenith Stol CH701, N701SA, Weatherford, OK, December 6, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 6, 2025, 14:51 local (20:51 UTC)
- Place: Weatherford, OK
- Coordinates: 35.545806, -98.6685
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5458&lon=-98.6685&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 19, 2026
- 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): 202127
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202127/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202127
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA057

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot being in a rush and failing to note the wind direction and speed.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05628ID), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05628ID), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05628ID), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Mental/emotional state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022500): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022500/cases.md?model=05628ID), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022500/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=05628ID), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05628ID), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05628ID), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05628ID), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot diverted to an alternate airport due to foggy weather along his route of flight. The pilot stated that while descending to land, the weather was getting worse and he wanted to get on the ground quickly. While landing on runway 35, the airplane dropped from about 20 ft above ground level and the left landing gear hit first. The pilot was unable to maintain control, and the airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, rudder, and wings. The pilot stated the accident could have been prevented by noting the windsock direction and wind speed and that he would never rush a landing again. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Weather reports indicated that the pilot landed the airplane with a 10-knot right quartering tailwind.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N701SA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N701SA), registered now, S/N 7-6054 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ZENITH STOL CH701
- Registry model: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/sharp-ralph-r-zenith-stol-ch-701) (registry code 05628ID) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jabiru 2200](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-2200) (registry code 34800, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 7-6054
- Year built: 2021
- Airframe hours: 350
- Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 23, 2023
- Destination: F22, Perry, OK
- Airport: OJA, Weatherford Stafford Airport, runway 35, 5,100 × 75 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 800 total, 350 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observed at: KOJA
- METAR: METAR KOJA 062050Z AUTO 16010KT 10SM BKN010 07/04 A2972 RMK AO2 T00700040=

## 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 20251206018439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251206018439A), Dec 6, 2025: Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, Weatherford, OK, Substantial damage. The aircraft was substantially damaged after the pilot sustained a hard landing and lost control of the aircraft on the runway. The left main gear impacted…

## Other investigations on N701SA (1)

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.

- [NTSB WPR21LA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA366), Sep 24, 2021: Sharp Ralph R Zenith Stol CH 701 (N701SA), Bishop, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of airplane control for undetermined reasons.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202127. 118 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 118 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19982131&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA057__6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19982121&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA057%20-%20PHOTOS-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19876084&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA057__PILOT-Rel.pdf
- Airport manager statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19875630&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA057__AIRPORT%20MGR-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.