# NTSB CEN26LA230: Zenith 601 XL, N165TJ, O'Donnell, TX, June 20, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: June 20, 2026, 11:47 local (16:47 UTC) - Place: O'Donnell, TX · 32.974950° -101.707100° Per FAA photos - Coordinates: 32.97495, -101.7071 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9749&lon=-101.7071&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 203215 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA230 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203215/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA230 ## Preliminary report On June 20, 2026, about 1147 central daylight time, an experimental Zodiac 601XL airplane, N165TJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near O’Donnell, Texas. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The pilot reported that she was relocating the airplane for the new owner, which was something she had previously done for this owner. During the preflight inspection, she did not find anything wrong with the airplane. About 15 minutes after departure, the canopy popped open about 2 inches, and she observed that the main canopy latch was no longer fully latched. As she initiated a right turn back to the airport, the latch broke and the canopy flew open. She grabbed the canopy rope and attempted to close the canopy but was unable. Due to the excessive drag, airplane’s descent increased so she executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot added that she had accumulated about 20 to 30 hours in the same airplane model but had never flown this airplane before. Postaccident examination by the FAA revealed that the airplane landed in an agricultural field, perpendicular to the rows of crops. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and wings. The airplane was equipped with a forward hinging, tip-up canopy with gas struts that assisted in opening the canopy and supported the canopy when open. The main canopy latch was on the front left side near the instrument panel. The rear of the canopy frame featured a rope that locked into a cam cleat behind the pilot’s seat, which acted as a secondary canopy latch. A condition inspection was completed on May 18, 2026, at 388.6 hours airframe total time. The logbook entry noted that the canopy was clear with no distortion and recommended replacement of the canopy struts. The airplane has been retained for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Mccall Thomas A ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05631EP), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Mccall Thomas A ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05631EP), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N165TJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N165TJ), registered now, S/N 6-7060, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenith Aircraft Company 601 XL - Registry model: [Mccall Thomas A ZODIAC 601XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/mccall-thomas-a-zodiac-601xl) (registry code 05631EP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34802, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-7060 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 390.1 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 18, 2026, 1.5 hours before - Departed: KLUV, Lamesa, TX - Destination: KJEF, Jefferson City, MO - Equipment: ADS-B ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KSNK, 42 nm away - METAR: METAR KSNK 201635Z AUTO 19005KT 10SM SCT034 29/20 A3000 RMK AO2 T02870196 ## 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 20260620008559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260620008559A), Jun 20, 2026: Mccall Thomas A ZODIAC 601XL, O'Donnell, TX, Destroyed. On June 20, 2026, at 1147 CDT, a zodiac 601XL impacted terrain while attempting an emergency off-field landing. The aircraft was being operated on a ferry… 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.