DAVID SHELL ZENITH CH701
Fairfield, UT — March 27, 2015
Event Information
| Date | March 27, 2015 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA15CA024 |
| Event ID | 20150330X30000 |
| Location | Fairfield, UT |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 40.09000, -112.12000 |
| Airport | WEST DESERT AIRPARK |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | DAVID SHELL |
| Model | ZENITH CH701 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a precautionary off airport landing.
Full Narrative
The pilot stated he thought he smelled smoke in the cockpit while en route to his destination. During a precautionary landing on a dirt road, the pilot stated he encountered a "dust devil" as the airplane touched down, and the airplane veered into a ditch. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Winds in the area were reported light and variable. The pilot holds a repairman certificate for the airplane; he reported a post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have resulted in abnormal operation of the airplane. He did not find anything related to the smell of the smoke.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.