# NTSB WPR21LA366: Sharp Ralph R Zenith Stol CH 701, N701SA, Bishop, CA, September 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 24, 2021, 00:00 local (07:00 UTC) - Place: Bishop, CA - Coordinates: 37.37311, -118.36361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3731&lon=-118.3636&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Security/criminal event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104262 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA366 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104262/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104262 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA366 ## Probable cause A loss of airplane control for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Other; cases with it: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05628ID), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05628ID), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Intentional act: stolen/unauthorized](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051020): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Other; cases with it: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051020/cases.md?model=05628ID), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Unknown: Security/criminal event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350) (defining event); cases with it: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350/sequence.md?model=05628ID), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350/sequence.md) ## Analysis Law enforcement personnel reported that the owner/pilot reported that his airplane had been stolen. The night before, the pilot landed and parked his airplane at the airport’s transient parking area. The following morning, he noticed that his airplane had been moved and subsequently found it near runway 8, at taxiway A. The airplane was positioned nose down with the nose gear collapsed and the left wing substantially damaged consistent with a loss of airplane control. Law enforcement investigation subsequently led to the arrest of the individual who was involved in the unauthorized movement of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N701SA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N701SA), registered now, S/N 7-6054 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SHARP RALPH R ZENITH STOL CH 701 - Registry model: [Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/sharp-ralph-r-zenith-stol-ch-701) (registry code 05628ID) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 2200](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-2200) (registry code 34800, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-6054 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 150.7 - Engines: JABIRU 2200A 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 2020 - Airport: BIH, Bishop, runway 08, 5,567 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Other flight crew; medical: unknown ## Weather - Conditions: Not reported - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KBIH - METAR: METAR KBIH 240656Z AUTO 35005KT 10SM CLR 19/M04 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP152 T01891039 ## 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 20210924016349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210924016349A), Sep 24, 2021: Sharp Ralph R ZENITH STOL CH 701, Bishop, CA, Substantial damage. N701SA experienced loss of control and subsequently crashed on Bishop Airport property after being stolen by non-certificated pilot. Suspect was arrested… ## Other investigations on N701SA (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN26LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA057), Dec 6, 2025: Zenith Stol CH701 (N701SA), Weatherford, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot being in a rush and failing to note the wind direction and speed. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 7, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104262. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13025733&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120-1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident pictures (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 385 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13026116&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA366%20Accident%20Pictures-Rel.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.