Amateur-built CH-750 accident near Gladewater, Texas, June 28, 2011
On June 28, 2011 at about 12:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CH-750, registered N751WB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Gladewater, Texas (Gladewater Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of directional control on takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2011 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gladewater, Texas · Gladewater Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CH-750
- Registration
- N751WB · registry record · serial 75-8124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had just built the airplane and had departed on the airplane’s first flight. The pilot reported that as soon as the wheels left the ground the airplane made a tight left turn. He was unable to arrest the turn and bring the airplane back to a straight and level attitude, so he reduced power and the airplane collided with trees, substantially damaging both wings and the fuselage. During a postaccident examination, flight control continuity was established to the flaperons, elevator, and rudder. However, due to impact damage, the investigation was not able to determine if the flight controls were rigged properly. The cause of the loss of directional control could not be determined.
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 takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 781 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 649 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 21, 2011; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 07F Gladewater TX at 12:30 pm
- Destination: 07F Gladewater TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,301 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
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.