# NTSB GAA20CA043: Zenair Zenith 801, N801PZ, Knoxville, TN, October 18, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 18, 2019, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Knoxville, TN - Coordinates: 35.963054, -83.876663 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9631&lon=-83.8767&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100478 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100478/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100478 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA043 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the approach and his improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Daniel F Niendorff ZENITH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05636F0), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Daniel F Niendorff ZENITH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05636F0), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Daniel F Niendorff ZENITH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=05636F0), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Daniel F Niendorff ZENITH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=05636F0), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Daniel F Niendorff ZENITH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05636F0), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during a power-off 180° approach, he noticed the airplane was "drifting" and would not reach the intended touchdown point. He added power to correct and then reduced the power to idle to resume the approach. On short final, the airplane encountered a "wind shift or gust" and developed a high sink rate. He applied power and lowered the nose, but the airplane landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to 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, during a power-off 180° approach, he noticed he was "drifting" and would not make the intended touchdown point. He added power to correct, and then reduced the power to idle to resume the approach. On short final, the airplane encountered a "wind shift or gust" and developed a high sink rate. He applied power and lowered the nose, but the airplane landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 08. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N801PZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N801PZ), registered now, S/N 8-4758, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenair ZENITH 801 (No Series) - Registry model: [Daniel F Niendorff ZENITH 801](https://openairdocs.org/model/daniel-f-niendorff-zenith-801) (registry code 05636F0) (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: 8-4758 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 180 - Engines: Aerosport Power IO-375-B2BEMS 195 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 16, 2019 - Departed: TN98, Knoxville, TN - Destination: DKX, Knoxville, TN - Airport: DKX, Knoxville Downtown Island, runway 08, 3,499 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review September 30, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 350 total, 199 in this make and model, 306 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KDKX ## 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 20191018017449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191018017449A), Oct 18, 2019: Daniel F Niendorff ZENITH 801, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. N801PZ a homebuilt aircraft, zenith 801, serial number 8-4758 was certificated on June 2017. The owner and PIC during accident sequence, private pilot [privacy… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100478. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479248&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 592 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479249&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.