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GAA20CA053

2019-11-01 · Salem, Oregon, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SLE

Current FAA registration · N102PH

Make / Model
ZENITH STOL CH 701
Year of manufacture
2019 · 0 years old at event
Engine
ROTAX 912ULS SERIES (100 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20230518
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A00D6F

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, while taking off, the airplane, "suddenly jumped" about 30 ft into the air with a nose high attitude and rolled to the right. He corrected by, applying left and forward input on the flight controls. The airplane then rolled to the 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 should have waited for calm winds before trying first flight in unfamiliar aircraft. 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. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, accident, the wind was from 360° at 12 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 34. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Lateral/bank control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • F Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - F
  • F Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total experience w/ equipment-Pilot - F

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA20CA053.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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