# NTSB ERA17CA152: Lazear John T Zenair Stol CH 701, N3846T, Windsor Twp, PA, April 11, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 11, 2017, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Windsor Twp, PA - Coordinates: 39.943054, -76.592781 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9431&lon=-76.5928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94992 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17CA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94992/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94992 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA152 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper pretakeoff planning, his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a short-field takeoff with a tailwind, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lazear John T ZENAIR STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=05609HO), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lazear John T ZENAIR STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05609HO), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Lazear John T ZENAIR STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05609HO), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Lazear John T ZENAIR STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05609HO), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Lazear John T ZENAIR STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=05609HO), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Lazear John T ZENAIR STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=05609HO), [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. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Lazear John T ZENAIR STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05609HO), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Lazear John T ZENAIR STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05609HO), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that he attempted to take off on a grass portion of his property that extended about 1,000 ft before reaching power lines. During takeoff on an approximate 130° heading, he noticed the airplane was not climbing fast enough to clear the power lines. He pulled up "hard" to clear the power lines but stalled the airplane. The left wing dipped down, and the airplane impacted the ground. The right wing separated from the fuselage, and the empennage was crushed behind the wings. Both main landing gear separated from the fuselage, and the nose landing gear folded back under the engine compartment. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He added that he thought the wind was swirling and that the airplane may have encountered some wind shear. The recorded wind at an airport located about 13 miles west of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 320° at 4 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane reported that he attempted to takeoff on a grass portion of his property, that extended about 1,000 ft prior to reaching powerlines. During takeoff on an approximate 130° heading, he noticed the airplane was not climbing fast enough to clear the powerlines. He pulled up "hard" to clear the powerlines but stalled the airplane. The left wing dipped down and the airplane impacted the ground. The right wing separated from the fuselage and the empennage was crushed behind the wings. Both main landing gear separated from the fuselage, and the nose gear folded back under the engine compartment. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. He added that he thought the wind was swirling and may have encountered some windshear. The recorded wind at an airport located about 13 miles west of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 320° at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3846T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3846T-2018-08-07), registration cancelled 2018-08-07, S/N 73696, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LAZEAR JOHN T ZENAIR STOL CH 701 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Lazear John T ZENAIR STOL CH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/lazear-john-t-zenair-stol-ch-701) (registry code 05609HO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 73696 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 469 - Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 31, 2016, 40 hours before - Departed: Windsor Twp, PA - Destination: LNS, LANCASTER, PA - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2015; seat: left; flight hours: 835 total, 85 in this make and model, 740 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KTHV, 13 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 20170411007059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170411007059A), Apr 11, 2017: Lazear John T ZENAIR STOL CH 701, Red Lion, PA, Destroyed. The pilot took off, at a 130 degree heading, with a quartering tailwind. The pilot stated once the airplane became airborne, he felt could not gain the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94992. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 808 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456463&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 511 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456464&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Interview - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456465&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456466&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Investigative Photographs (item 5, .PDF, 2 photos, 807 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456467&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Master.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.