Amateur-built Zenair accident near New Hudson, Michigan, May 24, 2009
On May 24, 2009 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Zenair, registered N701MW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near New Hudson, Michigan (Oakland Southwest Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent failure of the nose landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2009 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Hudson, Michigan · Oakland Southwest Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zenair CH701
- Registration
- N701MW · registry record · serial 7-4191
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were returning to the departure airport during an instructional flight. The accident occurred during the first landing attempt, which was piloted by the flight instructor. During the touchdown, the airplane experienced a hard landing, which damaged the nose wheel, and upon the second touchdown the airplane veered off the runway. The flight instructor was providing flight instruction without a current airman medical certificate, and did not have a current flight review.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,974 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 11,799 as pilot in command; 8,097 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 6, 2006
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 43 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 174.4 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 28, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: New Hudson MI at 2:00 pm
- Destination: New Hudson MI
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 07, 3,128 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from OZW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.