# NTSB GAA18CA067: Todd Foley Zenith 701, N701TF, Mount Airy, NC, December 1, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 1, 2017, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Mount Airy, NC - Coordinates: 36.461112, -80.553054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4611&lon=-80.5531&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 21, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96414 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96414/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96414 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA067 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Todd Foley ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05635OP), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Todd Foley ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05635OP), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Todd Foley ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=05635OP), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/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: [Todd Foley ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05635OP), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Todd Foley ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05635OP), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Todd Foley ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05635OP), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Todd Foley ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05635OP), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Todd Foley ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05635OP), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Todd Foley ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=05635OP), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that, during takeoff, he raised the nose after reaching about 20 mph, and about 40 mph, the airplane lifted off the runway. He "held the stick back just a little [too] long and it started to tip stall to the left and [he] pushed the stick forward." He added that he applied right aileron and rudder because the airplane was drifting to the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and bounced on the runway, and the right wheel separated from the airplane. He then, with full power, continued to fly and make right aileron and rudder inputs to get back over the runway. The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and wings. The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 090° at 4 knots. The pilot was departing from runway 18. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane reported that, during takeoff, he raised the nose after reaching about 20 miles per hour (mph), and about 40 mph the airplane lifted off the runway. He "held the stick back just a little [too] long and it started to tip stall to the left and [he] pushed the stick forward." He added that he applied right aileron and rudder because the airplane was drifting to the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane aerodynamically stalled, bounced on the runway and the right wheel separated from the airplane. He then, with full power, continued to fly and make right aileron and rudder inputs to get back over the runway. The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and wings. The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported, that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 090° at 4 knots. The pilot was departing on runway 18. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N701TF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N701TF-2020-09-04), registration cancelled 2020-09-04, S/N 4714, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TODD FOLEY ZENITH 701 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Todd Foley ZENITH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/todd-foley-zenith-701) (registry code 05635OP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 4714 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 8 - Engines: Rotax 912 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 2017 - Departed: MWK, Mount Airy, NC - Destination: MWK, Mount Airy, NC - Airport: MWK, Mount Airy/Surry County, runway 18, 4,301 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 185 total, 185 in this make and model, 125 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KMWK ## 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 20171201022279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171201022279A), Dec 1, 2017: Zenith 701, Mount Airy, NC, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed runway 18 and was unable to stay aloft. Aircraft bounced off the ground shearing off the right main landing gear wheel and again became… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96414. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 424 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459559&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 550 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-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.