Zenair ZENITH STOL CH 701 N127VV

Summary

On 4 July 2018 at about 14:15 local time, a Zenair ZENITH STOL CH 701 registered N127VV was involved in an accident near San Saba, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 July 2018 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

San Saba, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

San Saba County Muni (81R)

Coordinates

31.2372, -98.7192

Aircraft

Zenair ZENITH STOL CH 701

Registration

N127VV

Category

Airplane

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Saba → Llano

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA393

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper landing flare during the aborted takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing and a nose-over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during takeoff, he applied right rudder to counteract the left turning tendencies of the airplane, but the airplane continued left of the runway centerline. He was unable to correct back to the runway centerline when the airplane was about 5 to 10 ft above the ground, so he decided to abort the takeoff and land on the grass left of the runway. During the landing, the airplane landed hard, the nose landing gear "dug" into the grass, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.