# NTSB GAA15CA139: Randall W Grandpre CH-701 Zenith, N70WG, Quincy, WA, June 26, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 26, 2015, 07:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Quincy, WA - Coordinates: 47.178333, -119.875 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1783&lon=-119.8750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91450 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91450/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91450 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA139 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate selection of a take-off area, resulting in a collision with obstacles and a loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Randall W Grandpre CH-701 ZENITH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05631VL), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Randall W Grandpre CH-701 ZENITH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=05631VL), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Randall W Grandpre CH-701 ZENITH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05631VL), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Randall W Grandpre CH-701 ZENITH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05631VL), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Randall W Grandpre CH-701 ZENITH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05631VL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on a gravel road, he failed to see a low hanging tree branch that the airplane collided with. The airplane veered off the road to the left and impacted an embankment that bordered the road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on a gravel road, he failed to see a low hanging tree branch that the airplane collided with. The airplane veered off the road to the left and impacted an embankment that bordered the road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70WG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70WG), registered now, S/N 7-4823, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RANDALL W GRANDPRE CH-701 ZENITH (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Randall W Grandpre CH-701 ZENITH](https://openairdocs.org/model/randall-w-grandpre-ch-701-zenith) (registry code 05631VL) (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: 7-4823 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 315 - Engines: Viking HF-110 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Grandpre Randall W - Registered owner: Grandpre Randall W - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 18, 2015, 73 hours before - Departed: Quincy, WA - Destination: S83, KELLOGG, ID - Airport: 80T, Quincy Muni - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review September 26, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 500 total, 312 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KEPH, 2 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 20150626010109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150626010109A), Jun 26, 2015: Randall W Grandpre CH-701 ZENITH, Quincy, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted a takeoff from a county road with inadequate wing tip clearance. During takeoff roll, left wing tip contacted shrubbery and pulled aircraft to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91450. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430562&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430563&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Fuselage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.