# NTSB WPR26LA324: Zenith CH701, N701WJ, Byron, CA, August 30, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: August 30, 2026, 09:05 local (16:05 UTC) - Place: Byron, CA - Coordinates: 37.826558, -121.62224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8266&lon=-121.6222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203704 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA324 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203704/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA324 ## Preliminary report On August 30, 2026, about 0905 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Zenith CH701, N701WJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Byron Airport (C83), Byron, California. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane had previously sustained damage in an accident at Byron in 2019 (see NTSB report WPR20LA035). It was subsequently repaired by the pilot, with work including reconstruction of the aft fuselage, construction of a new rudder, and fabrication of a new set of wings. Following completion of the repairs, engine and systems testing was conducted. The day before the accident, additional taxi tests, high-speed runs, and takeoff tests with immediate landings were performed at Byron, with no anomalies reported. On the day of the accident, the pilot taxied the airplane to the run-up area following which he conducted two additional cycles of high-speed taxi and takeoff tests on runway 23. After observing normal operation, the pilot elected to takeoff and remain in the traffic pattern. While climbing through approximately 300 ft agl, the pilot observed a decrease in engine rpm followed by a total loss of power. The pilot reported that his attention was focused on returning to the airport for landing and he did not have sufficient time to troubleshoot the loss of engine power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane toward the airport and landed in a grass area adjacent to the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a ditch and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial to the leading edges of both wings, left-wing strut, rudder and aft fuselage. The airplane was retained for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Soto William J CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056375K), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N701WJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N701WJ), registered now, S/N 7-10529, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ZENITH CH701 - Registry model: [Soto William J CH701](https://openairdocs.org/model/soto-william-j-ch701) (registry code 056375K) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Aeromoment AM13 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aeromoment-am13-series) (registry code 00450, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-10529 - Year built: 2019 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Departed: C83, Byron, CA - Airport: C83 ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KLVK, 12 nm away - METAR: METAR KLVK 301853Z 30005KT 10SM CLR 22/11 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP133 T02220106= ## 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 20260830012039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260830012039A), Aug 30, 2026: Soto William J CH701, Byron, CA, Substantial damage. It was reported by the Byron Airport aircraft rescue fire fighting (ARFF) team that on August 30, 2026, at Byron Airport (C83) in contra costa county, [privacy… ## Other investigations on N701WJ (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 WPR20LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA035), Nov 29, 2019: Zenith Stol CH701 (N701WJ), Byron, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot/builder's improper construction of the cowling, which resulted in inadequate venting of the engine, its overheating, and a partial loss of engine power. 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.