Amateur-built CH701 accident near Paxton, Illinois, July 16, 2011
On July 16, 2011 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built CH701, registered N9040W, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Paxton, Illinois (Paxton Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to takeoff with a tailwind in high density altitude conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2011 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Paxton, Illinois · Paxton Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CH701
- Registration
- N9040W · registry record · serial 3978
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during departure with a slight, quartering tailwind, the airplane did not continue climbing or gain altitude due to the high density altitude. The airplane started to descend and he realized that he would not clear the powerlines at the end of the runway, so he banked the airplane to the left and made a hard landing in the grass which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall, lower forward fuselage, and rudder. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Performance calculations › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area condition › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 87 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 53 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 363 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 2010; 37 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1C1 Paxton IL
- Destination: PRG Paris IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,409 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on September 7, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.