Carothers ZENITH CH701 N433UB

Summary

On 13 May 2011 at about 20:32 local time, a Carothers ZENITH CH701 registered N433UB, operated by James R. Carothers Jr., was involved in an accident near Tidioute, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 May 2011 at 20:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Tidioute, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Private

Coordinates

41.6631, -79.4033

Aircraft

Carothers ZENITH CH701

Registration

N433UB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

James R. Carothers Jr.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tidioute → Tidioute

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11LA300

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's impairment due to alcohol and failure to maintain altitude on approach to landing, resulting in an in-flight collision with a tree.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot stated that he had been operating the experimental light sport airplane at a low altitude with a passenger. As he turned into the final approach to land at his private strip, the right wing collided with a tree. The airplane rolled right, he added power, the nose of the airplane pitched down, and the airplane collided with the ground and nosed over inverted. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no preaccident anomalies. Witnesses reported that the pilot had been flying low over the area prior to the accident. Additionally, prior to returning for landing at his private airstrip, the pilot had allowed the landing gear to contact the top of a tree at the witness's residence. Postaccident testing of a blood specimen, obtained from the pilot approximately 90 minutes following the accident, was positive for alcohol at 149 mg/dl (0.149 percent).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.