Event CEN25FA247

Factual narrative

On July 12, 2025, about 1250 mountain daylight time, a Zenith CH601 HDS airplane, N314LB was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in the Pawnee National Grasslands, Colorado. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. According to the pilot’s son, the airplane departed Rexburg-Madison Airport, Rexburg, Idaho, early in the morning on July 12th. The airplane landed at Central Wyoming Regional Airport (RIW) Riverton, Wyoming, and the pilot refueled the airplane. The airplane departed RIW and was enroute to Goodland, Kansas, where the pilot planned to spend the night. According to ADS-B data, the airplane was primarily on a southeast heading when the airplane turned south and began a descent during the last 90 seconds of recorded data. A witness, located at the accident site, stated the airplane descended in a wings level and nose low attitude, and the engine was running at what sounded like a full throttle setting. The witness also stated that as the airplane got closer to the ground, the pitch attitude of the airplane did not change. The nose of the airplane remained in a nose low attitude pointed toward the ground. The witness said the airplane struck the ground, bounced twice, and came to rest upright. The accident site was located on a sloping grassy prairie about 24 nm northeast of Greeley-Weld County Airport (GXY), Greeley, Colorado. The initial impact was on a magnetic heading of about 240°. The airplane traveled 293 ft from initial impact until the main wreckage came to rest on a magnetic heading of about 305°. The debris field was about 475 ft long and 125 ft wide. Preceding the main wreckage were pieces of wheel fairings, navigation lights, the right wing tip, top of the cowling, and a lower portion of the right wing. The landing gear and the engine were furthest away from the main wreckage. The nose landing gear was about 55 ft east of the main wreckage, the left main landing gear was about 85 ft southeast of the main wreckage, and the right main landing gear was about 75 ft southwest of the main wreckage. The engine was 175 ft southeast of the main wreckage. Control cable continuity was confirmed from the elevator to the control stick and full range of motion was achieved. Both the elevator control cable and the elevator balance cable remained intact and connected to the control stick. Full range of rudder motion was achieved by manipulating the left and right rudder control cables. The rudder control cables remained attached to the rudder fairleads, but the cables were impact separated from the rudder pedals. The wings remained attached to the fuselage; however, both wings were partially impact separated from the wing roots. The bottom portion of the right wing was separated and found in the debris field. Both wings were twisted and exhibited leading edge crush damage. The ailerons remained attached to the wings and full aileron travel was achieved by manipulating the aileron cables. The cables were traced back to the control stick. The airplane had three fuel tanks: one tank in each wing and a center tank behind the instrument panel. Although fuel was present in each wing tank, both tanks were breeched, so an accurate fuel measurement at the time of the accident could not be determined. The center fuel tank contained an unmeasured amount of fuel. The airplane was retained for further examination. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12