# NTSB GAA19CA200: Zenair Zenith CH 801, N801R, Fort Worth, TX, April 4, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 4, 2019, 18:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Fort Worth, TX - Coordinates: 32.93111, -97.411666 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9311&lon=-97.4117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99230 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99230/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99230 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA200 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control in flight and his subsequent loss of directional control during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain. ## 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: [Runyan David ZENITH CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05619PK), [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: [Runyan David ZENITH CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05619PK), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Runyan David ZENITH CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=05619PK), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Runyan David ZENITH CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05619PK), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Runyan David ZENITH CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05619PK), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Runyan David ZENITH CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05619PK), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Runyan David ZENITH CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619PK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while on short final, about 50 ft above ground level, the airplane rolled about 30º to the left. He applied full right aileron and leveled the airplane about 2 ft above ground level, but the airplane descended onto the runway, exited the runway to the left, and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, while on short final, about 50 feet above the ground, the airplane rolled about 30º to the left. He applied full right aileron and leveled the airplane about a couple feet above the ground, but the airplane descended on to the runway, exited the runway to the left, and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on an airport about 5 NM away reported that, about 15 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 050° at 16 knots. The pilot reported the wind was 050º at 10 knots, gusting up to 20 knots. The weight-shift control aircraft landed on runway 25. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N801R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N801R-2020-03-19), registration cancelled 2020-03-19, S/N 8-4296, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenair ZENITH CH 801 (No Series) - Registry model: [Runyan David ZENITH CH 801](https://openairdocs.org/model/runyan-david-zenith-ch-801) (registry code 05619PK) (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: 8-4296 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 445 - Engines: Superior XP-0-360-A1A2 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 31, 2018 - Departed: T67, Fort Worth, TX - Destination: T67, Fort Worth, TX - Airport: T67, Hicks Airfield, runway 32, 3,740 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 729 total, 445 in this make and model, 686 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KAFW, 5 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 20190404002519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190404002519A), Apr 4, 2019: Runyan David ZENITH CH 801, Forth Worth, TX, Substantial damage. On April 04, 2019 at approximately 1810 central daylight time, a zenith CH801 N801R veered off course before landing on runway 32 at Hicks Airfield (T67),… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 5, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99230. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.