# NTSB WPR25LA060: Zall Jihlavan Airplanes S R O JA-600 Skyleader, N789RC, Reedley, CA, December 12, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 12, 2024, 13:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Reedley, CA · On airport: O32
- Coordinates: 36.671, -119.451
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6710&lon=-119.4510&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199427
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199427/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199427
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA060

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## 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: [Zall Jihlavan Airplanes S R O JA-600 SKYLEADER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=06001CK), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Zall Jihlavan Airplanes S R O JA-600 SKYLEADER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=06001CK), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Zall Jihlavan Airplanes S R O JA-600 SKYLEADER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=06001CK), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Zall Jihlavan Airplanes S R O JA-600 SKYLEADER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06001CK), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Zall Jihlavan Airplanes S R O JA-600 SKYLEADER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=06001CK), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Zall Jihlavan Airplanes S R O JA-600 SKYLEADER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=06001CK), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight and had completed two successful takeoffs and landings. He reported that after a late flare, and during the rollout on the third landing, the airplane began to “skid left and right,” and he attempted to maintain directional control. While reaching for the flap handle, he inadvertently “bumped” the throttle control, increasing engine power. He reduced the engine power to idle and retracted the wing flaps. The airplane veered left and exited the left side of the runway, struck a runway sign, and came to rest in the grass infield. During the runway excursion, the nose landing gear collapsed. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed punctures to the lower fuselage consistent with impact with the runway sign. The nose landing gear exhibited deformation and fracture of the landing gear assembly near the bottom of the steering tube. Examination by the NTSB materials laboratory revealed that the deformation and fracture were consistent with bending overload.

## Factual narrative

On December 12, 2024, about 1315 Pacific standard time, a Zall Jihlavan Airplanes S R JA-600, N789RC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Reedley, California. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the student pilot, he was conducting his first solo flight and had completed two uneventful takeoffs and two landings on runway 16. During the third landing approach, he “came in too close to the runway” before rounding out and flaring the airplane. When the nosewheel touched down, he heard a loud thumping noise near the nose landing gear and felt that he had lost control of the airplane as it started to “skid left and right.” He attempted to regain control and reached forward to retract the flaps; however, he unintentionally bumped the throttle control and increased the engine power setting. After he decreased the engine power setting, the airplane veered left, exited the runway, impacted a runway sign, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright in the grass infield. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed deformation and fracture of the nose landing gear assembly near the bottom of the steering tube. Examination by the NTSB Materials Laboratory revealed that the deformation and fracture were consistent with bending overload. On December 12, 2024, about 1315 Pacific standard time, a Zall Jihlavan Airplanes S R JA-600, N789RC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Reedley, California. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the student pilot, he was conducting his first solo flight and had completed two uneventful takeoffs and two landings on runway 16. During the third landing approach, he “came in too close to the runway” before rounding out and flaring the airplane. When the nosewheel touched down, he heard a loud thumping noise near the nose landing gear and felt that he had lost control of the airplane as it started to “skid left and right.” He attempted to regain control and reached forward to retract the flaps; however, he unintentionally bumped the throttle control and increased the engine power setting. After he decreased the engine power setting, the airplane veered left, exited the runway, impacted a runway sign, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright in the grass infield. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed deformation and fracture of the nose landing gear assembly near the bottom of the steering tube. Examination by the NTSB Materials Laboratory revealed that the deformation and fracture were consistent with bending overload.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N789RC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N789RC), registered now, S/N 6 343 385C, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ZALL JIHLAVAN AIRPLANES S R O JA-600 SKYLEADER
- Registry model: [Zall Jihlavan Airplanes S R O JA-600 SKYLEADER](https://openairdocs.org/model/zall-jihlavan-airplanes-s-r-o-ja-600-skyleader) (registry code 06001CK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6 343 385C
- Year built: 2023
- Airframe hours: 24.3
- Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 95 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 28, 2024, 59 hours before
- Departed: O32, Reedly, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: O32, Reedley Municipal Airport, runway 16, 3,300 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 18; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 23.6 total, 23.6 in this make and model, 23.6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KFAT, 14 nm away
- METAR: METAR KFAT 122053Z 12004KT 10SM FEW021 SCT037 SCT060 BKN150 12/07 A2999

## 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 20241212019049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241212019049A), Dec 12, 2024: Zall Jihlavan Airplanes S R O JA-600 SKYLEADER, Reedley, CA, Substantial damage. The student pilot was flying his first solo. During the third landing the pilot reported losing control of the airplane. The landing was bumpy, and the…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199427. 11.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18347807&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pilot%206120%20_%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20911080&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Last%20Annual_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photos (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20918523&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf
- NLG - FAA examination (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20984216&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20-%20MOR_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Materials laboratory factual report 25-025 (item 5, PDF, 7 pages, 5 photos, 888 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18726445&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report%2025-025-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.

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