# NTSB WPR14CA020: L Goldner Zenith 701, N67MG, Milford, UT, October 17, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 17, 2013, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Milford, UT - Coordinates: 38.380992, -112.929969 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3810&lon=-112.9300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88238 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88238/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88238 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA020 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to execute a precautionary landing to unsuitable terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng liquid cooling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction; cases with it: [Goldner Leslie ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570/cases.md?model=05902X8), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Goldner Leslie ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05902X8), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Goldner Leslie ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=05902X8), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Goldner Leslie ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05902X8), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Goldner Leslie ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902X8), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Goldner Leslie ZENITH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05902X8), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while en route on the cross-country flight he noticed that the cylinder head temperature was rising. Suspecting a water leak through the cooling hose, he surveyed the remote area and made a precautionary landing on what appeared to be suitable terrain. After touchdown and during the landing roll the airplane encountered uneven ground, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and substantial damage to the airplane's right wing and empennage. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he should not have landed until he had located better terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while en route on the cross-country flight he noticed that the cylinder head temperature was rising. Suspecting a water leak through the cooling hose, he surveyed the remote area and made a precautionary landing on what appeared to be suitable terrain. After touchdown and during the landing roll the airplane encountered uneven ground, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and substantial damage to the airplane's right wing and empennage. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he should not have landed until he had located better terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67MG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67MG-2014-08-28), registration cancelled 2014-08-28, S/N 7-5298, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: L GOLDNER ZENITH 701 - Registry model: [Goldner Leslie ZENITH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/goldner-leslie-zenith-701) (registry code 05902X8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7-5298 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 958 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Leslie Goldner - Registered owner: Leslie Goldner - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 2012, 10 hours before - Departed: ELY, Ely, NV - Destination: RIF, Richfield, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 1,367 total, 960 in this make and model, 1,327 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 20131017018909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131017018909A), Oct 17, 2013: Goldner Leslie ZENITH 701, Delta, UT, Substantial damage. Aircraft was enroute from ely, Nevada to richfield, Utah, when the pilot noticed that the engine?s cylinder head temperature was rising. He thought it might… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 29, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88238. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404104&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - damage to front of airplane (item 2, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404105&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20damage%20to%20front%20of%20airplane-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - damage to empennage of airplane (item 3, .PDF, 571 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404106&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20damage%20to%20empennage%20of%20airplane-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - damage to right wing of airplane (item 4, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404107&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20damage%20to%20right%20wing%20of%20airplane-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.