# NTSB ERA21LA236: Maxson Phil Zodiac CH601XL, N601MX, Winder, GA, May 29, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 29, 2021, 11:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Winder, GA - Coordinates: 33.98269, -83.667217 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9827&lon=-83.6672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103172 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103172/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103172 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA236 ## Probable cause Pilot’s inadequate supervision of the pilot rated passenger’s actions, which led to a high descent rate and collision with obstacles. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maxson Phil ZODIAC CH601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=056208J), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Maxson Phil ZODIAC CH601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=056208J), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maxson Phil ZODIAC CH601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=056208J), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maxson Phil ZODIAC CH601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=056208J), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Maxson Phil ZODIAC CH601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056208J), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying with a pilot rated passenger who was becoming familiar with the flight characteristics of the airplane. As they turned final for the runway, the airplane began a rapid descent. The. pilot took control of the airplane and added full power for a go-around; however, he was unable to recover. The airplane subsequently struck an airport light pole, lost directional control, and came to rest inverted in a gravel parking lot, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot stated he did not monitor the developing situation fast enough to recover. He reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N601MX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N601MX), registered now, S/N 6-4025 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAXSON PHIL ZODIAC CH601XL - Registry model: [Maxson Phil ZODIAC CH601XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/maxson-phil-zodiac-ch601xl) (registry code 056208J) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6-4025 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 344 - Engines: General Motors Corvair 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 3, 2020, 22 hours before - Airport: WDR, Barrow County, runway 13/31, 5,202 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot-rated passenger; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; flight engineer, military, commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 22, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 18,437 total, 28 in this make and model, 12,354 as pilot in command, 132 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 60 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: WDR ## 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 20210529007109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210529007109A), May 29, 2021: Maxson Phil ZODIAC CH601XL, Winder, GA, Substantial damage. On June 29, 2021, at approximately 1140 eastern standard time, N601MX, a zodiac CH601XL, was involved in an accident with two people on board at coordinates… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103172. 15.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 12.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12737643&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operators%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot owner (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12737454&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot%20Owner-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12737242&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspectors%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and damage (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12737586&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-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.