# NTSB ERA26LA133: Morris Bradley D Zenith Stol CH-701, N123XP, Hendersonville, NC, March 1, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 1, 2026, 16:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Hendersonville, NC - Coordinates: 35.306113, -82.434034 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3061&lon=-82.4340&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 9, 2026 - 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): 202568 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202568/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202568 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA133 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Morris Bradley D ZENITH STOL CH-701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05619OK), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Morris Bradley D ZENITH STOL CH-701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05619OK), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Morris Bradley D ZENITH STOL CH-701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05619OK), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Morris Bradley D ZENITH STOL CH-701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05619OK), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Morris Bradley D ZENITH STOL CH-701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619OK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he did not have any previous flight experience in the make and model airplane. During takeoff, the airplane lifted off with a nose high attitude and the wings were flying, but the tail was not. The airplane began to turn to the left and the pilot was unable to correct the deviation. The airplane then departed the runway and impacted trees, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N123XP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N123XP), registered now, S/N 7-5087, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MORRIS BRADLEY D ZENITH STOL CH-701 - Registry model: [Morris Bradley D ZENITH STOL CH-701](https://openairdocs.org/model/morris-bradley-d-zenith-stol-ch-701) (registry code 05619OK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-5087 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 269.4 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 20, 2024, 40 hours before - Airport: 8NC9, W N C Air Museum Airport, runway 33, 2,400 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 620 total, 0 in this make and model, 620 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 9 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: AVL, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KAVL 012054Z AUTO 01009G18KT 10SM FEW090 21/02 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP203 T02060017 55004 $ ## 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 20260301001879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260301001879A), Mar 1, 2026: Morris Bradley D ZENITH STOL CH-701, Hendersonville, NC, Substantial damage. Who: pilot (only person on board aircraft) What: aircraft accident involving an experimental amateur-built zenith stol CH-701 When: 01 March 2026 at… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202568. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20491375&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photograph (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 808 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20489594&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photograph-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20491698&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=METAR-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.