N789RC

On December 12, 2024, about 1315 Pacific standard time, a Zall Jihlavan Airplanes S R JA-600, N789RC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Reedley, California. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

According to the student pilot, he was conducting his first solo flight and had completed two uneventful take offs and two landings on runway 16. During the third landing’s rollout, he heard a loud thumping noise near the nose landing gear and felt that he had lost control of the airplane as it started to “skid left and right.” As he attempted to regain control of the airplane, he reached forward to retract the flaps, unintentionally bumped the throttle control, and increased the engine power setting. After he decreased the power setting, the airplane veered left, exited the runway, impacted a runway sign, and came to came to rest upright in a grassy area.

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the lower fuselage was substantially damaged and the nose wheel landing gear was collapsed.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.