N801R

Substantial
None

Zenair ZENITH CH 801S/N: 8-4296

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, April 4, 2019
NTSB Number
GAA19CA200
Location
Fort Worth, TX
Event ID
20190408X12655
Coordinates
32.931110, -97.411666
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
3
Total Aboard
3

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control in flight and his subsequent loss of directional control during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N801R
Make
ZENAIR
Serial Number
8-4296
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2005
Model / ICAO
ZENITH CH 801CH80
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
RUNYAN DAVID S
Address
10844 OWL CREEK DR
Status
Deregistered
City
FORT WORTH
State / Zip Code
TX 76179-6827
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that, while on short final, about 50 feet above the ground, the airplane rolled about 30º to the left. He applied full right aileron and leveled the airplane about a couple feet above the ground, but the airplane descended on to the runway, exited the runway to the left, and impacted terrain.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings and fuselage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The automated weather observation station located on an airport about 5 NM away reported that, about 15 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 050° at 16 knots. The pilot reported the wind was 050º at 10 knots, gusting up to 20 knots. The weight-shift control aircraft landed on runway 25.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA19CA200