# NTSB CHI00LA005: Zenair CH 2000, N25ZA, St. Louis, MO, October 6, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 6, 1999, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO
- Coordinates: 38.700916, -90.470878 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7009&lon=-90.4709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47508
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47508/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA005

## Probable cause

the student pilot misjudged the landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.  A factor associated with the accident was the student's lack of total experience.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that the airplane bounced during a landing.  The student stated he heard a 'thump' and he took off again, bringing the airplane around for an uneventful landing.  The accident occurred on the student's third solo instructional flight.  Winds reported 7 minutes prior to the accident, at the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, 9 miles east of the accident site were calm.

## Factual narrative

On October 6, 1999, at 0900 central daylight time, a Zenair Ltd. CH 2000, N25ZA, operated by Creve Coeur Aviation experienced a hard landing on runway 16 at the Creve Coeur Airport, St. Louis, Missouri.  The student pilot was not injured.  The airplane received substantial damage to the firewall.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.  The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight originated at the Creve Coeur Airport, exact time unknown.

The student pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that the airplane bounced during a landing.  The student stated he heard a "thump" and he took off again, bringing the airplane around for an uneventful landing.

The accident occurred on the student's third solo instructional flight.   Winds reported 7 minutes prior to the accident, at the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, 9 miles east of the accident site were calm.

Inspection of the airplane following the flight, revealed damage to the nose landing gear, propeller, and firewall.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N25ZA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N25ZA), registered now, S/N 20-0025, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Zenair CH 2000
- Registry model: [Zenair CH 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/zenair-ch-2000) (registry code 9950100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20-0025
- Airframe hours: 669
- Engines: Lycoming O-235 116 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Creve Coeur Aviation
- Registered owner: Zenith Aircraft Sales
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: 1H0
- Destination: 1H0
- Airport: 1H0, Creve Coeur, runway 16, 2,820 × 160 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: 9 nm away

## 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 19991006044279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991006044279A), Oct 6, 1999: Zinair CH2000, St Louis, MO, No damage. (-23) Upon arrival at Creve Coeur Airport found the a/c had been disassembled to the firewall with the propeller, engine and nose landing gear removed. Noted…

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.

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