NTSB Opens Investigation Into Zodiac 601XL Incident Near O'Donnell, Texas

Federal investigators have opened a file on a non-fatal aviation incident involving a Zodiac 601XL, registration N165TJ, owned by McCall Thomas A, that occurred near O'Donnell, Texas, on June 20, 2026. The National Transportation Safety Board has classified the event under case ID 20260622203215, rating the severity as serious.

According to NTSB records, no fatalities were associated with the occurrence. The extent of aircraft damage has not been specified in the public event summary, and a detailed narrative report has not yet been released. Authorities have not publicly identified the pilot.

Aircraft Background

The Zodiac 601XL is a two-seat, low-wing, experimental kit-built aircraft widely used for private recreational flying. The model has previously drawn safety scrutiny over structural integrity concerns — specifically wing spar reinforcement — prompting design updates and retrofit recommendations from the manufacturer. Whether those issues bear any relevance to this incident remains to be determined by investigators.