# NTSB ERA24LA175: Haring Robert C Zenith CH601XLB, N107RW, East Amherst, NY, April 10, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 10, 2024, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: East Amherst, NY - Coordinates: 43.067667, -78.691821 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0677&lon=-78.6918&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 194072 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194072/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194072 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA175 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and his decision to continue the takeoff from the soft turf runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Haring Robert C ZENITH CH601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05631OK), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Haring Robert C ZENITH CH601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05631OK), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Haring Robert C ZENITH CH601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=05631OK), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Haring Robert C ZENITH CH601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05631OK), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Haring Robert C ZENITH CH601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05631OK), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Haring Robert C ZENITH CH601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05631OK), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was departing from a wet, turf runway. The pilot reported that during the departure roll the airplane began to veer to the right and was not travelling fast enough when he attempted to takeoff. The airplane’s nose gear settled back onto the runway, it then sank into the soft turf, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted and sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot further reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot also stated that he should have aborted the takeoff, but “thought he could power through the drifting and get the aircraft off the ground.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N107RW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N107RW), registered now, S/N 6-4843, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HARING ROBERT C ZENITH CH601XLB - Registry model: [Haring Robert C ZENITH CH601XLB](https://openairdocs.org/model/haring-robert-c-zenith-ch601xlb) (registry code 05631OK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300a) (registry code 34804, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-4843 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 252 - Engines: Jabiru 3300A 107 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2023, 8 hours before - Destination: 9G3, Akron, NY - Airport: D51, Clarence Aerodrome, runway 10/28, 2,500 × 67 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review October 27, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 758 total, 252 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KBUF, 8 nm away - METAR: KBUF 101754Z 21009KT 10SM FEW007 FEW070 FEW110 BKN250 15/10 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP147 60002 T01500100 10150 20111 56000 ## 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 20240410003969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240410003969A), Apr 10, 2024: Haring Robert C ZENITH CH601XLB, Clarence, NY, Substantial damage. On April 10, 2024 at about 1430 local time this aircraft attempted a takeoff from runway 10 at D51. About one third down the runway there were tire marks in… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194072. 10.7 MB in all. - FAA inspector's telephone interview summary (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17402667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MFR%20Randy%20Steele-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's accident site and interview summaries (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17402779&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Incident,%20N170RW_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot logbook excerpt (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 888 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17402997&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20Excerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records excerpts (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17402677&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20Log%20Book_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17402887&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.