# NTSB WPR24LA115: Zenith Zodiac CH601, N43373, Rawlins, WY, March 15, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 15, 2024, 13:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Rawlins, WY - Coordinates: 41.81, -107.2 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8100&lon=-107.2000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 193961 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193961/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193961 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA115 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to see and avoid powerlines during an unstabilized approach, which resulted the airplane landing short of the runway and coming to rest inverted. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Henry Donivan W ZODIAC 601-HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05622G3), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Henry Donivan W ZODIAC 601-HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05622G3), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Henry Donivan W ZODIAC 601-HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05622G3), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Henry Donivan W ZODIAC 601-HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=05622G3), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Henry Donivan W ZODIAC 601-HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05622G3), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Henry Donivan W ZODIAC 601-HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05622G3), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was for him to perform touch-and-go takeoffs and landings flying solo. After a normal takeoff, he configured the airplane on the final approach leg of the traffic pattern with the engine operating at 1,700 rpm and a descent rate of approximately 500 ft/min descent while maintaining an airspeed of about 75 kt airspeed. He noticed the precision approach position indicator (PAPI) lights showed 3 white and 1 red (indicating he was slightly high on the approach path), and in response, maneuvered the airplane in a more nose-up attitude. As he proceeded on the final approach path, the fuselage collided with powerlines that were oriented perpendicular to the runway and about 300 ft from the threshold. The nose dropped and the pilot attempted to flare. The main landing gear touched down short of the runway threshold and then the nose gear settled into soft mud. The airplane nosed-over, coming to rest inverted. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions of failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43373](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43373), registered now, S/N 6-3803, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenith Zodiac CH601 (HDS) - Registry model: [Henry Donivan W ZODIAC 601-HDS](https://openairdocs.org/model/henry-donivan-w-zodiac-601-hds) (registry code 05622G3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-235-C1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-235-c1) (registry code 42027, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-3803 - Year built: 2006 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: RWL, Rawlins Municipal/Harvey Field, runway 04, 7,008 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; student; medical: sport pilot, unknown; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 32 total, 1 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg ## 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 20240315005219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240315005219A), Mar 15, 2024: Henry Donivan W ZODIAC 601-HDS, Rawlins, WY, Substantial damage. Pilot intended to perform touch-and-go landing to rwy 4 at krwl- Rawlins municipal airport, Rawlins, Wyoming. On downwind to rwy 4, at 45 degrees from intended… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193961. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17217801&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z-%20Attachment%2001%20-%206120_redacted-Rel.pdf - Photograph of accident site (provided by the federal aviation administration) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17218372&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z-%20Attachment%2002%20-Photos-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.