ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 309103
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| Date: | Friday 10 March 2023 |
| Time: | 11:45 LT |
| Type: |  Zenith CH 601XL Zodiac |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | N969WD |
| MSN: | 6-5349 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2005 |
| Engine model: | ROTAX 912 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Cuchara Valley Airport (07V), La Veta, CO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | La Veta, CO |
| Trinidad-Las Animas Airport, CO (TAD/KTAD) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost all power shortly after takeoff at an altitude of 400 to 500 above ground level (agl). The airplane then entered an aerodynamic stall, descended, and impacted the ground before coming to rest inverted. The pilot had just purchased the airplane and did not have any flight time in the accident make and model airplane.
The previous owner was present when the accident occurred. He stated that he did not believe that the accident was a result of a loss of engine power. He noted that the engine runup was normal and the wind was 35 to 40 knots with gusts at the time of the accident. He saw the airplane after takeoff and it appeared to be bouncing around because of the wind. It then stalled and fell to the ground. He could not hear the engine noises due to the wind.
A postaccident examination, which included an engine run, did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Based on the available evidence, the accident was likely the result of the pilot's decision to fly the airplane in which he had no experience in strong, gusting wind. This led to exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall that the pilot had insufficient altitude to recover from.
Probable Cause: The pilot's decision to fly the airplane in which he had no experience in strong, gusting wind, which resulted his failure to maintain proper airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB CEN23LA128
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 30-Mar-2024 17:18 | Captain Adam | Updated [Time, Registration, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category, Accident report, Photo] |
| 04-Apr-2024 09:52 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
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