Zenith Acft STOL CH 701 N511QC

Summary

On 27 February 2015 at about 20:30 local time, a Zenith Acft STOL CH 701 registered N511QC was involved in an accident near Marion, South Dakota, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 February 2015 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Marion, South Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Dykstra Grass Strip (PVT)

Coordinates

43.4844, -97.2417

Aircraft

Zenith Acft STOL CH 701

Registration

N511QC

Category

Airplane

Year built

2014

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bridgewater → Marion

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15CA160

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering to land resulting in contact with a power line and the ground. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was relocating his airplane to a private airstrip. On arriving at the airstrip, the pilot did two takeoffs and landings without incident. During the takeoff and climb for a third approach and landing, the pilot experienced and uncontrolled roll to the left. The pilot put in right aileron but the input did not seem to have any effect on the roll. The roll turned the airplane toward a power line located east of the runway. The pilot could not recall if he applied engine power or tried to climb to keep the airplane from contacting the power line. The airplane struck the power line and subsequently impacted the ground seriously injuring the pilot and resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The airplane was equipped with flaperons. The pilot said he was not using flaps, and that the airplane's thick wing reduced the effect of power during the descent. The pilot reported having one hour total time in the accident airplane make and model.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.