Amateur-built STOL CH701 accident near Pulaski, Wisconsin, April 29, 2011
On April 29, 2011 at about 7:13 pm local time, a amateur-built STOL CH701, registered N701MJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Pulaski, Wisconsin (Carter airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent flight experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2011 · about 7:13 pm local time
- Place
- Pulaski, Wisconsin · Carter · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STOL CH701
- Registration
- N701MJ · registry record · serial 7-4321
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane veered to the left during initial climb after takeoff, narrowly cleared a tree line, and immediately entered a steep climb before leveling off. It subsequently entered a left turn and then a second steep climb. The airplane continued in the left turn until it entered a downward spiral and impacted the ground about 800 feet from the threshold of the departure runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot, who was the builder of the experimental, amateur-built airplane, had logged no flight time in the 90 days preceding the accident and only 3 hours of flight time within the 6-month period immediately preceding the accident. Records indicated that this was the first flight of the airplane.
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
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Recent experience › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 166 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: October 1, 2010
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 25, 2010; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 92C Pulaski WI at 7:12 pm
- Destination: 92C Pulaski WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,555 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from GRB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN11FA310.