Zenair ZENITH STOL CH 701
San Saba, TX — July 4, 2018
Event Information
| Date | July 4, 2018 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA18CA393 |
| Event ID | 20180705X85902 |
| Location | San Saba, TX |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 31.23722, -98.71917 |
| Airport | SAN SABA COUNTY MUNI |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Zenair |
| Model | ZENITH STOL CH 701 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s improper landing flare during the aborted takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing and a nose-over.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that, during takeoff, he applied right rudder to counteract the left turning tendencies of the airplane, but the airplane continued to the left of the runway centerline. He was unable to correct back to runway centerline, about 5 to 10 ft above the ground, so he decided to abort the takeoff and land on the grass to the left of the runway. During the landing, the airplane landed hard and the nose landing gear "dug in" to 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.
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.