Zenair CH701 N102PH

Summary

On 1 November 2019 at about 22:30 local time, a Zenair CH701 registered N102PH was involved in an accident near Salem, Oregon, United States. One person was 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

1 November 2019 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Salem, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Mcnary Fld (SLE)

Coordinates

44.9094, -123.0025

Aircraft

Zenair CH701

Registration

N102PH

Category

Airplane

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salem → Salem

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA20CA053

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control during takeoff, which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to make his first flight in an airplane he unfamiliar with before waiting for calm winds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while taking off, the airplane "suddenly jumped" up about 30 ft with a nose-high attitude and rolled right. He corrected by applying left and forward inputs on the flight controls. The airplane then rolled left. Attempting to level the wings, he reduced power, and the airplane impacted terrain. The pilot further reported that it was his first flight in the experimental, amateur-built airplane and that he should have waited for calm winds before trying a first flight in an unfamiliar airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. 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.