Amateur-built ZODIAC CH6 accident near Clinton, Arkansas, June 4, 2009
On June 4, 2009 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built ZODIAC CH6, registered N9093Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Clinton, Arkansas (Clinton Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was his failure to secure a wing fuel panel prior to departure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2009 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Clinton, Arkansas · Clinton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZODIAC CH6
- Registration
- N9093Y · no longer on the register · serial 63758
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot had just refueled his single-engine experimental airplane in preparation for the next leg of his cross-country flight. During lift-off, the pilot reported that the right wing felt heavy and that the airplane was veering to the right. He applied left rudder, reduced power, lowered the nose, and landed hard. Subsequently, the left main gear and nosegear collapsed and the airplane went off of the left side of the runway. The pilot reported that he failed to properly secure the large fuel panel located on the top of the right wing. In addition, he reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or the engine.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Doors › Fluid service doors › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,007 hours in all; 78 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 28, 2007
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 70.3 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 16, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCA Clinton AR at 9:50 pm
- Destination: BKR Mountain Home AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,012 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Observation at 9:10 pm from LIT, 53 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.